The Tree

After you have learned about your family from your family, it’s time to start attaching all those leaves to your family tree.  For that we need a pedigree chart.  While I firmly believe in keeping your family history on a computer, I think it helps to begin by filling in a paper pedigree chart.

Why Paper?

Filling out a paper pedigree chart does several things for you.  You can find pedigree charts many places online.  Searching for “pedigree chart” with any search engine will give you dozens of choices to download and print (Here’s one to save you the trouble).  The main reason for filling it out by hand with a pencil is that it helps you learn how your family history is graphically related.  Let me explain.

When working on your family history on a computer, whether online or on your PC, you will be working on one family unit at a time.  You will enter a person, enter their spouse, and then their children.  It can get confusing how all these families relate to each other.  Filling out a paper pedigree helps you become comfortable with how the family units fit together.

The reason for filling it out in pencil is that when first starting out, everyone makes mistakes.  Trust me, I have helped a lot of people get started, and when you start recording multiple names and dates it’s easy to get confused, especially when the people you are entering are new to you.  Many times when filling out a pedigree chart, before long people start calling relatives to find missing details, which can lead to the need for a big eraser!

Save That Chart!

Often people beginning their family histories are surprised because they can fill out four generations of their family tree without digging for a single record.  If your  grandparents are alive, or if you know information about their parents, then you are off to a great start!  Once you get that paper pedigree chart filled out, you are ready to enter it onto your computer, and we’ll talk more about that in the next few weeks.  You may want to make a copy or take a picture of your paper pedigree, not only to keep it safe but so you can share it with your friends.  It’s quite an accomplishment!

If this seems overwhelming, Heroes of the Past is here to help.  Whether it’s coming up with questions to ask your relatives, help with the pedigree chart, or just getting started,  our experience can make this easy.  Contact us today to schedule a virtual help session and begin your family history!

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