Family Tree

This #MeritBadgeMonday we take a look at requirement #6 of the Genealogy Merit Badge.  I have heard on a few occasions that you do not know where your going unless you know where you have been. This is very true when it comes to genealogy.  You do not fully know who you are until you know who you came from.  For some it might be knowing why and how your family is really good at making raspberry jam. For me, it's understanding why there is a love of working with your hands and gardening.  Usually we tend to like and do the same things that our parents like and do... and where did they start?  Traditions in my mind define our families. In a good way our traditions separate us from others (how boring would it be if everyone was good at everything) and make us unique in this big melting pot of a world.

One why of showing your lineage is through a Family Tree or using a Fan Chart.  An excellent resource on creating these images is FamilySearch.com.  This website is owned and maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Another great website is Ancestry.com

Family Tree

Family Fan Chart