Family Archaeology: Discovering the Family Skeleton and Making it Dance is a combination genealogy primer and family history promotional. This book encourages the reader to discover, or rediscover, their people who make up one’s family tree. With encouragement, the book then provides ways to unearth hidden treasures from the past with practical tips any genealogical newbie can follow. There are also plenty of ideas and thoughts to help the seasoned genealogist.
Here are just some of the topics covered in this book:
- Searching for relative, how to begin
- About nationalities and other ethnic ties
- Religious preferences
- Learning about citizenship
- Tracking down military experiences
- Finding the importance of your name
There is more to learn within the pages of the book. Each chapter follows a similar architecture, starting with an introduction and subject synopsis. These few paragraphs are followed by sections like “Let’s Talk,” “Let’s Discover,” and “Let’s Plan.” Each is a numbered list of questions and suggestion to help guide the reader to greater success. Filled with anecdotes and plain language this book is fun to read and will surely supply even the avid genealogist with some new ideas.
Table of Contents
Forward: Your kind of folk
Creating a Legacy: Blending old and new
Getting Started: Fifteen valuable resources to help you begin your family research
1 The Skeleton in the Closet: Searching for relative information and how to begin
2 Pride and Prejudice: Learning about nationality and other ethnic ties
3 What’s your John Henry? Discovering the importance of your name
4 Pilgrim’s Progress: Taking note of religious preferences
5 I hereby Declare, on Oath: Finding out about citizenship and what it means
6 So You Went to Harvard: Studying up on educational pursuit in your family
7 When You Grow Up: Discovering career choices in your family
8 Military Memories: Tracking down military experiences
9 Soul Stirrings: Identifying causes that matter to you and your family
10 The Taboo of Politics: Learning about political leanings
11 A Hoola Hoop and a Game Boy: Playing around with leisure activities
12 A Friend is a Friend Forever: Identifying friends who made a difference
13 A Clean Bill of Health: Examining your medical history
14 How much is that Anole in the Window: Making sure pets know their rightful place
15 Do I have to eat the Lutefisk: Rediscovering ethnic traditions that have shaped your family
16 Favorite: Putting a name to things you and your family love
17 An Apple for the Teacher: Praising teachers who went beyond the book
18 Good Fences Good Neighbors: Recalling neighbors and how they bordered your life
19 Follow the Leader: Identifying leaders in your family
20 Rice Aroni, The San Francisco Treat: Salivating over ethnic food
21 Knit Two, Purl Two: Prospering what you do with your hands and other skills in your family
22 Count to Ten in Latin: Learning linguistics
23 She Looks Like, She Acts Like, She is Like: Exploring similarities and differences and why some married people look alike
24 Motherhood and Apple Pie: Reclaiming family traditions and values that endure
25 It’s Reunion Time: Looking for kindred spirits
A Postcripts
Order Family Archaeology: Discovering the Family Skeleton and Making it Dance from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: HBH2264, Price: $16.66