AskAnissa: Why is Family History important?

Question: My grandmother was always worried that she would not get enough of her genealogy done before she died, and that her memories of her childhood would not be recorded for others to use in their searches.  I have asked myself many times, "Why is family history so important?"  Honestly, I have never had the desire to continue what my grandmother had worked so hard on for so many years.  About seven years ago grandma died, and after the funeral, my mom and aunts and uncles read grandpa and grandma's will.  I was told that grandma had asked that no matter how others felt about it, and no matter what they thought would happen, I (a grandchild) was to be in charge of ALL her genealogy records.  Since that time, many of my aunts and uncles homes have had some type of destruction or other act that may have destroyed grandmas records.  I do understand that family history is important, I just wish that somehow I would feel compelled to want to do the work.  I would appreciate anyinformation and guidance you might give me.  Allison E., Seminole, FL

Answer: As a mother of three, and running my own home business, I have often wondered how I would fit doing my family history into my schedule.  As of yet, I don't officially announce that its something that I do.  Yes, at times I do find the time, but, my time, ability, and desire to do it just don't come around as often as it should.  Only you can find the desire to undertake such an important hobby.  I will tell you this, that I believe it is very important to preserve as much as possible and ask others to aid you in doing so.  You can always record stories and other relevant information from relatives, friends, or neighbors and save it in more than one place so that yoiu always have a back up.  Instead of worrying about how much you do or do not know, you can start by writing important dates and happenings down on paper, and compiling an information sheet on each member of your family. 

I am including some information that might be of use below and links to other websites, also, you can find resources (that are updated and added to on a regular basis) on my Family History Page.

Producing life stories and legacies through books, oral histories, audiotapes, videos, DVDs or websites will enrich lives for generations to come. Personal and family stories are important to preserve for future generations.

The WikiPedia Defenition of Family History:

Family history is the systematic narrative and research of past events relating to a specific family, or specific families. Family history plays a part in the practice of some religious belief systems. Family history can either be in the form of a printed document, electronic document or sound or video recording that preserves this history for future generations.

Family history can also provide much needed information for medical reasons, family history is an important risk factor for problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

Family History websites and indexes are useful tools whether you are beginning your family history or if you are a pro.

For more in depth information and resources visit the following sites:

Cyndi's List

Family Search

Genserv

Ancestry.com

RootsWeb