Geneaology - Make Your Family Tree More Than Just A Chart On The Wall

We've all felt the satisfaction of finding the last bit of genealogical data that completes our family tree chart. We've spent months or even years digging through family bibles, old photographs, courthouse records, and countless web sites and now we have all the names and dates we need to fill the branches of the family tree chart. But it's just that, a chart.

Look at it. What does your family tree chart really tell you? If we're honest, that chart doesn't tell us very much. Framed, it will be a nice addition to your wall and Aunt Lilly will think it's a great gift, but don't you want it to be more than a chart? Each of the names on your chart was a life lived. Each of those names experienced joy and loss. Some were accomplished in their careers. Others were simply great mothers or hard workers. And yes, most families have at least one ancestor that we're not so proud of. Look at your chart again. Can you tell who it was? No, you can't. Without the stories, photographs, and historical documents, all your hard work is nothing more than a pretty chart.

There are many reasons for adding photos to your research. The photo on the right is a good example. Sam Driskill was my maternal great grandfather and he died when I was eight years old.

Sam worked hard and said little. There aren't many stories about him because he wasn't very engaging. He was sick a lot and the only memory I have of him is a sad one. I don't think I ever heard his voice because he couldn't or wouldn't speak. Sam Driskill scared me. I only remember him laying in bed in a back bedroom of the house. Just laying there. The room had a distinct smell and my Mom told me it was Sam's "powder". I don't know what it was but it must have been a bad-ass medicine because it smelled really bad. We visited every Sunday but I never wanted to go into the room. I would stand at the door and look at him, so thin and gray and gasping for breath but I was afraid to get close. Sam looked like death and I was afraid of it.

Can you imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this photo of Sam. He's not a young man but he climbed a tree! Sam looks alive, really alive. This photo gave my memory a new image of Sam, a happier image, and it has become my favorite family photo. I love this picture because it tells such a different story about my great grandfather. Through this photo, I now see my great grandfather, Sam Driskill, as a real character; someone with a sense of humor. Why else would an old man climb a tree in his Sunday suit? Yes, Sam Driskill was a character and I wonder sometimes, did I get my love of trees from him? One little photo changed everything. And that, is the power of making your research more than just a chart.

My paternal great grandmother was never a topic of discussion but once my grandmother showed me this photo of her, I could never forget her. The photo was kept in a cedar chest and I only saw it once or twice when I was a little girl. You know those old folks kept all their secrets in a cedar chest. They only told us it was for keeping moths out of blankets and such.

Lottie Rachel Hendricks Bryant died when she was 23 years old. No one in the family knows what killed her but I'm on it. I've been digging for years to find her death certificate. My grandmother, Rahel's daughter, was raised by her paternal grandmother. Her father remarried and Rachel was forgotten; tucked away in a cedar chest.

From the moment I saw this photo of Rachel, I was endeared to her. She was beautiful and so very young when she died and I cannot help but wonder how different things would have been had she lived. And of course, I often wonder about her death. Was it childbirth that killed her or an accident? Or, was it disease? Did she suffer? These questions remain unanswered but one day the truth about Rachel will be known. Her story will be told. For now though, her photo is out of the cedar chest and serves to remind me that my research must be more than just a chart on the wall.

You can't hang an embellishment on a wall chart, or can you? Of course you can. There are dozens of photo editing or graphic design software programs that will let you scan, edit, and save images in the various image formats. It won't tell your story though. Let's talk about family crests for a minute.

Family crests are more than just fancy images. They are symbolic of your family's place in history. Each component of a family crest represents some characteristic trait of your family and a wall chart just doesn't let you strut your stuff. So what does a crest tell you about your family?

To adequately explain the symbolism used in family crests would require another hub so lets just introduce you to the basics. The crest shown here is just one variant of my family's crest. There are many but they all contain the same elements with only slight differences in the layout. The symbols of my family crest reveal following characteristics of my ancestors:

My point was not to brag that my family is/was/use to be brave, loyal and generous, although it's true. My point was to show you that there are significant things about your family that just cannot be demonstrated by a chart on the wall.

If you are serious about tracing your roots, be serious about how you present what you find. A chart on the wall is nice but those names are real people. They fought wars, famine, and drought. They survived brutal winters and persecution, disease, and discrimination. They are your ancestors and without the stories, photos, and documents, their lives mean nothing. Because they struggled and won, you are here and it is up to you to make sure they are more than just a name on a wall chart.

A framed chart is a wonderful gift and a beautiful addition to your home décor but to add a story book or photo album adds depth and dimension to your own personal history. Ask yourself - do you want your name on a wall or your story told for generations to come? The answer will guide you in your research.

© 2012 Linda Crist, All rights reserved.

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