BOOM Family History

New Ways to Learn About Your Family's History

AA

hile researching family history
or discovering your ethnic roots
was once a task-heavy chore,
filled with hours of library visits, interviews
or public records inquiries, now you can con-
veniently learn from home thanks to new
technology tools, such as apps, social media
and even affordable ancestral DNA tests that
enable you to find relatives you may not
have known about.
Connecting with those who mean the
most to you is easier than ever. Here are
some pointers to get started:
• Start with what you know: Using a
website like Ancestry.com or the Ancestry
app (available on iOS and Android), enter
the details you know into your family tree.
Include photos where you can. Don't have
all the facts? Don't worry. This is just the
start of your quest.
• Take a DNA test: DNA isn't just for TV
shows and professional detectives. You now
can be your own detective. Get your ethnic
breakdown by percentage, such as 50 per-
cent Irish and 50 percent Native American,

and find out who else may be related to you
with tools such as AncestryDNA. On aver-
age, folks taking the test have 60 matches to
fourth — or closer —cousins in their results.
• Chat with relatives at family parties:
At the next family gathering, dive into your
collective history. Consider gifting tools like
a DNA test to your relatives. Record any
conversations, particularly with the elderly,
and take detailed notes. Ask everyone to
bring photo albums and heirlooms. Any
documents you create or collect you can
attach to your online family tree for future
preservation.

• Look at the ancestry hints in your
family tree: Ancestry provides hints about
possible relatives to populate your family
tree. These clues could give valuable insight
into your family's legacy and connect you
with relatives you don't know.
• Share your findings: Whether it's at
the next family reunion, or as a birthday gift
wrapped and framed, share your findings
with your family for a better understanding
of your collective heritage. Consider giving
relatives a meaningful gift such as a calen-
dar, a book or poster documenting the fam-
ily history. Encourage family to try the app
and fill in their own extended family tree.
For more researching tips, or to get
started on your own search, visit www.
Ancestry.com .
Whether it's confirming a family legend,
discovering an old yearbook photo of a
grandfather before he left for World War II,
or meeting extended family you never knew
existed, it's never been easier to preserve
family memories and traditions.

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18 BOOM Magazine • February 2015

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