Scratch a genealogist and you’ll find a historian. It’s impossible to research the family tree without learning at least something about the past. Our ancestors lived through migrations, natural disasters, wars and some of the world’s greatest political debates. They discussed slavery, state’s rights, the California gold rush, the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, a central government, the British burning of Washington, DC, the battle of Gettysburg, the gift of the Statue of Liberty, Custer’s death and the latest fashions.
As we all know, gathering just names and dates for a pedigree chart does not make a family history. However, understanding as much as we can about our family history does. /P>
You can find history here:
• American History
americanhistory.about.com
• This Day In North American Indian History
americanindian.net
• Jewish-American History on the Web
www.jewish-history.com
• Outline of American History
usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/homepage.htm
• Chinese American History Timeline
online.sfsu.edu/~ericmar/catimeline.html
• The History Channel
www.historychannel.com
Nancy Hendrickson is a Family Tree Magazine contributing editor and the author of Finding Your Roots Online. You can read her AncestorNews column in every edition of the Family Tree Magazine E-mail Update (sign up at www.familytreemagazine.com/newsletter.asp).
