Scandinavian Family History Research

December 7, 2015

This semester, I was able to study in a Scandinavian Family History Research class. I am so grateful for this class because I learned that I absolutely love doing Scandinavian research! When I first started the class, it was very overwhelming. The language was different, the records were hard to find, and I had no idea where to even start. We started talking about Church Records. This includes baptisms, marriages, burials, household examinations, and moving in/out records.

In the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland), they kept very good records. Exact dates and locations for births can be found in Household Examinations. With an exact date and place, a baptism record can easily be found. Because I was able to learn how to use and find these records, I was able to find many missing family members and I expanded my direct line further.

Here are some examples of these documents:
Baptism:

Marriage:

Household Examination:


How to Get Started

November 20, 2015

Many people would like to do their family history, but few know how to get started. Here are some tips to get you excited about your own family history.

To find a family, use FamilySearch Family Tree or Ancestry Public Member Trees. Family Tree is a compiled tree that anyone has access to and can make changes on. Although this can be good, as it allows researchers to share their research, it also results in incorrect data. It is very important to try to be as accurate and thorough with family history research. Ancestry Public Member Trees are individual trees that are shared with other Ancestry users.

For help getting started on FamilySearch, please see the videos on this page: https://familysearch.org/ask/gettingStarted.

Ancestry is a subscription website. LDS members can access it for free through this website: https://familysearch.org/partneraccess or a subscription can be purchased. Once you have a subscription, you can search "Public Member Trees" under the search tabs.

Some people may think that their family history is already done and there is nothing more to do. Family history work is never done. Your ancestors had siblings who had children that also need to be found. Family history never goes in just one direction. It goes up, out, and down numerous of times. If there seems to be a lot of sources and documentation for your direct lines, try looking at the siblings/nieces and nephews of your ancestors. All of these people matter and they also help you learn more about your ancestor and where they came from.

I recommend starting by learning more about the lives of your ancestors. By doing so, you can gain a greater understanding of where you came from and a better appreciation for those who came before you.

The Importance of Family History

October 11, 2015

Family history connects us to the past. We are where we are due to our ancestor's great efforts. It is our duty and obligation to research them and learn about the lives they lived. As we learn about those who lived before us, we will feel a greater sense of belonging and gain a better understanding of our own selves.

"The more you know of your history,
the more liberated you are."
--Maya Angelou

Family history is a very important work. It is exciting, fun, and addictive. It will provide a form of happiness that cannot be found anywhere else. May we push forward in this effort and access our roots!

This blog will outline fun research findings, useful research methodologies, and family stories. Our hope is to spark interest for individuals to start learning about their own family history and to spread the love of genealogy to as many people as possible!