Genealogy Blog
October 25, 2007
Family History
Our family history, when researching
genealogy it is really about history - our family history. But how do we
know those family history stories are true? When is family history truth
or fiction?
Last night my mom received a phone call from an
elderly relative, and they began discussing my researching of our family
history. This relative went on to tell my mother all sorts of
information, that according to mom, was more fantasy than fact.
Mom, who is just a few years younger than this person, remembered an
entire different scenario.
Some twenty years ago, when I was working on history articles for the
small mountain community of Wrightwood California, I encountered the
same situation. I was working closely with the president of the
local historical society, who insisted that much of the popular local
history was incorrect. When I sought advise from San Bernardino
historians on this issue, I was told that the story most often told, was
the one usually used…..therefore the old adage that if you tell
something enough, it becomes true…is true!
As family historians we need to gather information from as many sources
as possible, and just like making that family quilt, we can patch
together the bits and pieces to create an overall family story. If
several aunts and uncles remember the same story, chances are you are
close to the truth. The exact truth? I don’t believe there is such
a thing.
It is not uncommon for someone to take ownership of an interesting tale,
and suddenly cast themselves as the center character, when in truth it
actually happened to their cousin, sibling or brother’s barber.
I’ve seen people I know do this…people who haven’t the excuse of being
elderly. Sometimes it is just easier to tell an interesting story
with you as the center figure, rather than taking the time to explain
that the person this really happened to was the second cousin of the
brother of the gardener of your sister’s next door neighbor. And
after retelling the story a few times…..it becomes true!
Above photo: El Monte Laundry, El Monte
California.
The George & Hilda Glandon Family.
- BAJH
Ancestry Safari has moved it's Blog to a new location. For
recent entries, go to:
http://ancestorsafari.blogspot.com/