Family interest .....

[Simon G.]

I've often wondered why I'm so interested in my roots bearing in mind they'll all end with me

I've wondered the same thing with myself, as although I'm young (23) I know I'm probably going to be the end of the line unless I'm very lucky (I've had cancer, and was warned I may never be able to further the line).  In a way though I feel it's important to know where we all came from...important to know the people without whom we quite literally wouldn't have been here.  For me it's as much a voyage of self discover as it is an exploration of the past (which also draws me in, having a history degree ).  I think it's such a shame more young people don't take an active interest in their family history...they don't know the fun they're missing out on.

[MarieC]

Simon

I agree absolutely with you about the joys of and reasons for researching our families!  There is all this value for us - but one hopes that somewhere, there will be a person in the next generation who values what we've done.

Somewhere on Rootschat, some time ago, a beautiful poem was posted called "We are the chosen".  The theme was that those of us who do this are privileged to be the chosen ones for our generation, and we have the honour and responsibility of researching and writing and handing the family history on.  It was quite inspiring - I loved it!

MarieC

[Sylviaann]

We are the Chosen

We are the chosen.  In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors.  To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.

Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before.  We are the storytellers of the tribe.  All tribes have one.  We have been called, as it were, by our genes.  Those who have gone before cry out to us, "Tell our story!"   So, we do.

In finding them, we somehow find ourselves.  How many graves have I stood before now and cried?  I have lost count.  How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us."  How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me?  I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts.  It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do.  It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying, "I can't let this happen."  The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh.  It goes to doing something about it.  It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish, how they contributed to what we are today.  It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.

It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keep us a Nation.  It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us.  It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggled to give us birth.  Without them we could not exist, and so we love each one, as far back as we can reach.

That we might be born who we are.  That we might remember them.  So we do.

With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are they and they are the sum of who we are.   So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family.  It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take my place in the long line of family storytellers.

That is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and restore the memory or greet those whom we had never known before.

[Sylviaann]

My family are not interested and I don't talk to them about my research.  My daughter said she would probably burn everything when I am gone.   

I am trying to tidy everything so they can just put the files into boxes and store them in the loft.  I also send out discs to my sisters family and any cousins whose addresses I have.  I also don't mind sharing the info with anyone interested.  Grandchildren or greatgrandchildren may be interested one day.  It is all on computer and disc.  It would be nice if they were interested but anyway it keeps me happy.

They don't like my pottery, embroidery and glass pictures either.  Oh Well never mind

Sylviaann

[Comosus]

My family are not interested and I don't talk to them about my research.  My daughter said she would probably burn everything when I am gone.   

Burn it?!

I hope she's young and/or doesn't really mean that.

Andrew

[Josephine]

Sylviaann,

Thank you for posting that poem; it's wonderful!  Did you write it?  I've saved it to a Word document and would like to give proper credit if possible.

I love the line:  "We are the storytellers of the tribe."  I hadn't thought of it that way but it is so true.  I'm going to hold my head a little higher now when I think about my research.

If you are concerned about what will happen to your files after you're gone, have you considered putting in your will that you want them all to be donated to the local library or family history society?  Then you assign an executor who you know will honour your wishes.

It's good that you are giving discs to other family members so your work will be preserved and, hopefully, continued.  I'm going to give binders to my brother, for our side of the family, and to my sister-in-law, for my husband's, first, because I want them to have them, and second, because if anything should happen to my binders, it wouldn't all be lost.

As for your pottery, embroidery and glass pictures, if you passed away, I believe they would cling to the things that you had made with your own hands and cherish them forever, whether they are interested in them now or not.  I know the things that mean the most to me are the ones my mother touched and made herself.  Even something in her handwriting is precious to me.

Regards,
Josephine

[Josephine]

Jules,

How wonderful that your young cousin is interested in your family history!

My aunt was the one in my mother's family who was into genealogy.  I was happy to have a copy of her binder but didn't share her fascination until...  I don't know what happened, but I was bitten by the genealogy bug and I was off and running.     (I was in my thirties.)

My daughter isn't interested now but I know that she might be some day.  I'm working on copies of my binders for my brother to keep for his much younger children.   

Regards,
Josephine

[Sylviaann]

I didn't write "We are the chosen".  It has been on here before and I kept a copy.  When doing a search I found 2 authors so there is doubt.

Our children are not so sentimental as us but hopefully as they grow older they will learn.

Meanwhile my sisters children in NZ are interested.  It must be so nice to have someone really keen especially a young person.

I did put it in 2 small books and handed them around but there is too much now so the discs will have to do.

Sylviaann

[pjbuk007]

I think it is very important that anyone who has a lot of research and not very interested families should donate (or will) their work to a local FSH or Records Office.  There will always be someone to take it, and later another family member will be interested.