Honoring families of all kinds
Winter is a good time to cozy up with a good story, including stories from our beloved family members. Last winter, I created my own family tree in modern calligraphy and presented it as a gift to my parents.
Here is my family tree… can you find me? 🔎
I created my family tree as a gift for my parents before my dad passed away.
My family history on my Dad’s side was researched by another family member, so I already had the names compiled that I needed. However, the family history on my Mom’s side was an oral history I needed to capture from my mom, which was based on stories from her mother and grandmother. We worked together to put the pieces together for her side of our family.
Tools of the trade
I used a pencil and a rolling guide ruler to layout all the names on my family tree before inking it with pointed pen and ink.
A little bird
I included a little bird on my family tree to represent a child born by my maternal great-grandmother who died shortly after birth.
Here are a few of my favorite resources that helped me create my family tree:
National Geneology Society - a good primer on how to get started
Ancestry.com - free downloadable chart to map out your tree
Visiting the lovely public employees at the local public archives
Want to create your own tree? The Postman's Knock has a great tutorial.
Ready to order your own custom family tree?
It is important to acknowledge that family histories vary and are oftentimes difficult to compile due to the history of systemic racism and sexism in the United States. As an artist, I honor this experience and work with my clients to portray their family tree in a way that honors their own unique family legacy.
The National Genealogy Society offers links to resources that honor this history, including:
Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Special collections include African American and a Native American Gateway; military records; and a surname database contributed by researchers. One of the largest genealogical library collections in the U.S.
Freedman’s Bureau A Federal agency of the United States Department of War to help slaves who were set free after the Civil War and also poor whites with provisions, clothing, and fuel. It also helped with immediate and temporary shelter and supplied food and aid to the destitute and suffering.
JewishGen An easy-to-use website with many record groups and good surname search facilities. Daitch-Mokotoff phonetic search algorithms for eastern European and Jewish name searches. Some databases require payment.
Afrigeneas.org An excellent starting place for African American genealogy. It features a “Beginners Guide” video; details on best sites for African American records, resources, and research; good direction on finding slave data, vital records, history of slavery; plus a website search function, forums and chats.
Ready to create your own custom family tree? I would be happy to help illustrate it for you.
