Launched in 1920, the Gazette was utilized by the British Mandate for official publications until it was discontinued in 1948, following the establishment of the State of Israel.

The Israel State Archives published on Sunday the digital collection of the Palestine Gazette, the official newspaper for the British government during mandatory Palestine.

The collection was published to mark the uploading of the 50 millionth paper to the archive’s website.

L

aunched in 1920, the Gazette was utilized by the British Mandate for official publications until it was discontinued in 1948, a few months following the establishment of the State of Israel.

''Palestine Gazette'' July 1, 1921 issue in Hebrew.  (credit: ISRAEL STATE ARCHIVES)

The mandatory government used the Gazette to publish regulations, municipal laws, and government announcements in addition to information regarding sanitation and transportation, among other subjects.

The Gazette was published in English, Hebrew, and Arabic on an infrequent basis. However, those currently available to the public are in Hebrew and English.

Digitization efforts

According to the archives, the collection includes some 700 files and constitutes an important historical, legal, and genealogical source.

The archives noted the efforts to complete the digitization that have been ongoing for a decade, with 250 million papers digitized so far.

The Maine Irish Heritage Center helps people learn more about their ancestry through DNA testing and historic research.

Helen Donahue Frazier, right, and her daughter, Elizabeth Frazier, left, try on matching hats at a shop in Galway. Photo courtesy of Helen Donahue Frazier

In 2018, Helen Donahue Frazier visited the genealogists at the Maine Irish Heritage Center. She knew her father was Irish, but he died when she was 3 years old and had no living relatives.

“I had no Irish family before I walked in the door that day,” she said.

She found her family — and her passion. Frazier has since joined the team of volunteer genealogists at the Maine Irish Heritage Center who helped her do her own research. She answered five questions about their services. This interview has been edited for length.

How did you get in touch with the Maine Irish Heritage Center for the first time?

I didn’t know at the time that most everybody in the Portland area come from an area in Galway called Spiddal. In medieval times, it was a hospital, and it was set way outside city limits. As Irish like to do, we do too, we hack up our words some. They just changed it to Spiddal. Now it’s a town.

I did a DNA test from Ancestry, and I got 8,000 matches, and I have no idea who’s who here. My husband said to me, “You really need to go into the Irish Heritage Center.” So I went in, and Maureen and Margaret said, “We run a test through FamilyTreeDNA, and we have a project with them.”

I went to Portland High School. Looking through my list of matches, I’ve found six, maybe seven, people that I went to school with that I’m related to that I had no idea I was related to, and they didn’t know I was related to them either.

What did it mean to you to find more information about your family tree?

I never knew my father, really. I was too young. Even though I knew my mother, I didn’t know anything about my father. And there’s something about the Irish, it’s just a pull. It’s amazing. I went to Galway with my daughter, and I was walking on, it’s sort of like down in the Old Port, on Key Street. It’s right in the center of the Claddagh. I was walking on a street there, and all of a sudden, I got this tingling rush all through me that I have never sensed anything like this in my life. It was very strange to stand there and look at people and go, ‘Oh my God, I could be related to some of the people on this street.’ And I am related to a whole lot of them. I have cousins over there now. I was just talking to one this morning — 83. I have a lot of cousins that I talk to, which is so cool. It brings tears to your eyes when you start to realize that there’s so much that you missed out on that you never knew before. I missed out on a half of my family that I’ve never known, and I’m hurrying to catch up with knowing them now.

What are the steps if people want to get advice or start their research at the Maine Irish Heritage Center?

A lot of them come in with just a tree. A paper trail. And they’re stuck. Because the records are so incomplete. They’re lost, they’re burned. We recommend that if these people are trying to narrow it down, to take a DNA test with us.

A lot of it is confusing. They find records that say their great-great grandparents came on a ship from Cork, we’ll say. So they say, I’m from Cork, because that’s where my great-great-great-grandfather came from. He got a ship there. But actually, they didn’t. They went anywhere they could to get a ship.

We take two appointments on Fridays, and we charge $100 an hour to go over anything you want. We’ll go over your ancestry. We’ll go over FamilyTreeDNA. Margaret has the trees. Maureen can tell you who the people are. Matt can tell you the history of some of them. You get four of us talking to you, and sometimes it can be mind blowing. I know because I was there once.

What kind of records are you looking for in addition to the DNA information?

Dates are important. Birth dates, death dates, marriage dates. And when you find those, then you can move on to census reports. In the census reports, you can figure out when they immigrated, how long they’ve been married, how many children they had and the list of their children’s names. It’s just a trail.

I was so desperate one day to find out about my great-great grandfather from Island Pond, Vermont. I had come back from Ireland, and nothing. I was getting nothing on Ancestry. So instead of putting in all this information that I had, I just put “Martin Donahue” and “Island Pond, Vermont.” One thing came up. It was a Boston Pilot. It was a newspaper, and it was published so anyone here in the New England could put a notification in that they were looking for their family. Because they got off the boat and went different directions. So my great-great grandfather had put in a notification saying he was looking for his two brothers — Thomas, and I think it was Patrick — and the last time he had seen them was 18 years earlier in New York City. And that my great-great grandfather was from the Aran Islands.

We’re coming up on St. Patrick’s Day. Do you tend to get a lot of requests at this time of year?

Yup. There was a woman who wrote me a few weeks ago who wants me to go over her father’s Y-DNA because she doesn’t understand it. I said, “Don’t wait, because it’s going to start filling in, right?” I keep getting more and more people who want to come in.

The Maine Irish Heritage Center is located at 34 Gray St. in Portland. Visitors can do self-guided genealogy research in the library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday. The cost is free to members and $25 for anyone else. The genealogists are available by appointment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. The rate for a consultation is $100 per hour, and members get 50 percent off the first hour. For more information, visit maineirish.com or call the center at 207-780-0118.

MyHertage introduces Cousin Finder™, a useful new genealogy feature unique to MyHeritage that uses the power of family tree matches to find members of MyHeritage who are your blood relatives — cousins — with whom you share common ancestors. Cousin Finder™ then lets you easily get in touch with them so you can collaborate and gain new insights about your shared ancestors and family history. Think of Cousin Finder™ as a new way to find DNA Matches, but without a DNA test. The MyHeritage members that Cousin Finder™ reveals may be relatives you already knew about, but you didn’t know they use MyHeritage, and in many cases, they might be new relatives you’ve never heard of before. Unlike DNA Matches, Cousin Finder™ shows precisely how you are related to each relative. With Cousin Finder™, growing multiple branches of your family tree further has never been easier. Cousin Finder™ provides an innovative new way to crystallize the information from your matches to gain new insights. It does this by using your Smart Matches™ to extract only those people who are related to you through common ancestors, are easily contactable, and are likely to be interested in researching those common ancestors. You can learn more in the MyHeritage Blog.

The Just History Project website, an initiative aimed at uncovering and documenting the often-overlooked histories of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in Kennebunk and the surrounding towns of Wells, Kennebunkport and Arundel, has been launched by the Brick Store Museum.

The resulting Just History database can be found on the museum’s website at www.brickstoremuseum.org/justhistory. The site intends to tell the stories of individuals who lived in the region before European colonization and through periods of enslavement and oppression.

A photo from the New Hampshire Gazette and Historical Chronicle, appearing in the Dec. 30, 1774, Jan. 6, 1775 and Jan. 13, 1775 editions Contributed / Brick Store Museum

According to a news release, “the complex relationships between interconnected groups dramatically shaped this region’s past, and continue to impact us today. Through extensive research now published in the online database, the project has uncovered hundreds of names and stories of people whose lives were previously undocumented or forgotten.”

Bill Grabin of Kennebunk has been the lead researcher on the project. A free, public launch of the database, with a presentation about its use, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at the Brick Store Museum.

“This project has been years in the making and is an example of how history can expand to tell every person’s story,” said Cynthia Walker, executive director of the Brick Store Museum, in an email. “The more we know about all people who lived in our region – the stories, the struggles, and the resilience – the more we can understand the complexities of history.

“I give my thanks to the dedicated volunteers fueling this work and documenting these stories, much of which has been fragmented or lost. Everyone, across time and space, has a right to be a part of our shared history.”

The website, according to the news release, includes information based in primary and secondary source research on individuals who lived in the area during the colonial era, when enslavement existed in southern Maine and throughout New England; and then extends through the mid-20th century. Though slavery in the North did not match the scale of that in the South, it was still a harsh reality. Even after slavery was abolished, many formerly enslaved individuals continued to work under conditions that mirrored involuntary servitude. The website also features information on the Indigenous peoples who lived here, and their interaction with colonists who settled here.

“When I began this project, I did not anticipate how many stories I would uncover and how many of the early settlers of our towns would be involved,” Grabin wrote. “I was particularly impacted by the primary source documents that I was able to locate.”

The goal of the Just History Project is not only to shine a light on these historical truths, but also to provide access to primary source documentation whenever possible, Walker said. The project will continue to expand as new information is uncovered, continuously offering a more complete picture of the region’s past. The museum welcomes contributions regarding individuals that could be added, or related information.

The database includes hundreds of people; as well as a search and index page. Additionally, the website contains a section for research articles that complement and expand on the information included in the database. It is designed to be an educational resource for students, researchers, and community members alike.

Work to develop the technology behind the database was supported by a grant from the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation and additional advisory contributions from the museum’s community partner BBsquared.

For more information about the Just History Project, or to access the database, visit www.brickstoremuseum.org/justhistory.

The global family discovery event RootsTech is underway in Salt Lake City and online at RootsTech.org. It will run through March 8, 2025.

"We've learned, as you have all learned, when we find out how we're connected, we then treat each other differently."

Thousands of participants gather in Salt Lake City for RootsTech on Thursday, March 6, 2025. The theme of RootsTech 2025 is “Discover.” "Our ultimate goal is to simply unite families — past, present and future," said Steve Rockwood, president and CEO of RootsTech sponsor FamilySearch, an international genealogy organization and popular website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Speaking to news media on the morning of Thursday, March 6, 2025, in the Salt Palace Convention Center, Rockwood noted the "amazing thing" that happens when we find ways we are connected. "We've learned, as you have all learned, when we find out how we're connected, we then treat each other differently," Rockwood said. "You're going to feel that and see that throughout the conference."

The theme of RootsTech 2025 is "Discover," which points to the potential of new technologies.

"[Genealogical technology is] something that's happened in a significant manner in the last 100 years and now is at an accelerant pace in just the last 10 years," Rockwood said. "Last year, we saw incredible potential of what generative artificial intelligence (AI) can do to accelerate this work of allowing people to discover who they are. This year, it's not just buzz. You're going to see actual applications. You're going to see how it's accelerating the work in the back office that you and I usually don't see and how it's allowing us to take these incredible records, oral or written, and digitize them and make them searchable and deliver them to individuals."

As with previous years, the 2025 conference has offerings for seasoned genealogists and beginners. The event features hundreds of in-person and virtual classes (some available in more than 40 languages), interactive activities, and entertainment designed to inspire and educate family history enthusiasts of all levels. See the full class schedule. In the expo hall, patrons can learn more about the latest genealogical innovations and products Rockwood alluded to.

As of Thursday morning, registration for both the online (in the millions) and in-person events (15,000–20,000) was set to exceed previous years.

"Our attendee base is ever growing globally, with millions of people coming from over 230 countries and territories around the world," said RootsTech Director Jonathan Wing. "We as organizers never anticipated the type of appetite there is for this conference. We are thrilled by those who come."

This year's in-person keynotes are author Ndaba Mandela (grandson of Nelson Mandela), prominent artist Dana Tanamachi, Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall, and Emmy Award-winning singer and songwriter Rachel Platten, who will take the main stage to share their unique and inspiring personal, family and historical experiences.

The pre-recorded virtual keynotes are Latin American social media family Los Chicaneros, Filipina musician Ysabelle Cuevas, and Italian TV personality Marco Lui.

RootsTech is also an opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones. In 2024, RootsTech attendees made more than 350 million new family connections.

"Why do people want to participate in a family history conference?" asked Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy, the executive director of the Church's Family History Department. "The answer to that is that this is hardwired into our DNA. This is something that we all care about. We want to connect. We want to belong. We want to be part of a family. We want to know where we come from. We are just delighted to be able to facilitate this."

Saturday's Family Discovery Day

Saturday, March 8, is Family Discovery Day, a free event at the Salt Palace Convention Center featuring live music and family history activities for all ages.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Kathy, will speak at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. They will share personal messages focused on accessing the blessings of the temple and family history. Elder Andersen plans to take attendees on a personal virtual journey with him back to the dairy farm of his formative years.

The session will include a performance by Piano Guys on the main stage. The music performance and the Andersens' address will be streamed live and available on demand on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Also, on Saturday, attendees can enjoy free RootsTech classes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In-person class seating will be limited. T. C. Christensen, John and Kimberly Bytheway, Scott and Angelle Anderson and others will present. Topics covered will include engaging teens in family discovery experiences, using your ancestors' stories to build emotional resilience, a Q&A panel on temple and family history callings, and Latter-day Saint genealogy.

Andrea Michelle Reyes, taken by her mother in October 1999, was located through social media and DNA confirmation after the cold case was reopened. Now 27, Andrea has been reunited with her father, thanks to advancements in forensic genetic genealogy.

It was alleged her mother Rosa Tenorio, who did not have primary custody, abducted Andrea, and a felony warrant for Custodial Interference was issued for Rosa. Despite desperate searches, there were no traces of Andrea or Rosa for years.

The breakthrough came when police in New Haven, Connecticut, reopened the cold case. Andrea was found through social media, search warrants, and reviewing previous interviews. She made contact with the man she believed to be her father and agreed to submit a DNA sample, which confirmed a father/daughter relationship.

Reunion and technological advancements Andrea, now 27, is believed to have been reunited with her father. This case is the seventh to be publicly identified in Connecticut through technology developed by Othram, a forensic genetic genealogy company. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System placed both Andrea and Rosa in Pueblo near Mexico City at the time. Despite several unsuccessful searches by Andrea's father and other family members in Mexico, the investigation gained momentum with the help of the FBI and multiple age-progressed images of Andrea.

Andrea Michelle Reyes was snatched in 1999 when she was a toddler.

Missing child cases Missing child cases are a global concern, with thousands of children reported missing each year. In the United States, an estimated 460,000 children are reported missing annually. Other countries also face significant numbers, such as Germany with 100,000 missing children per year, and India with 96,000. The reasons for these disappearances vary, including parental abductions, human trafficking, and voluntary runaways. Efforts to address this issue include international cooperation, advanced technology like forensic genetic genealogy, and public awareness campaigns.

Paul Richard Davis

On Feb. 28, 2025, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office announced that after more than 36 years, the victim of a 1988 homicide case in Quincy has been identified as Paul Richard Davis.

On April 21, 1988, a tree removal crew, while working in a secluded area of Quincy California, located what appeared to be a bone sticking out of the ground. The worker dug up the object and additionally located some clothing with the bone. The worker then contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report his discovery. 

The sheriff’s office responded, and investigators excavated the site, locating what was confirmed to be human skeletal remains. Investigators collected evidence from the shallow grave, including tree root samples, which were sent to The University of Arizona for examination. Examination of the root samples estimated the earliest time the grave could have been dug was during the growing season of 1985 and the latest was the growing season of 1986. 

The skeletal remains were ultimately transferred to California State University of Chico Anthropology Department for examination. Preliminary findings from the Anthropology Department estimated the victim was that of a Caucasian male approximately 6’ tall, muscular build, approximately 35 to 45 years of age. Additionally, the victim’s skull had a hole in the back consistent with that of a gunshot injury. 

In 1988, items of evidence were transferred to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) for examination. DOJ attempted to identify the victim by dental records with negative results. All remains were later returned to Chico State University Anthropology Lab.

In 2022, detectives from the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office were contacted by the University of Chico Anthropology Department. They advised they were re-examining old cases and would like to complete a re-analysis of the remains they had custody of since 1988. In addition to the examination, the anthropology department entered the unidentified victim into NamUS as well as submitted bone samples to California Department of Justice DNA Lab to create a DNA profile in CODIS. This technology was in its very early stages of development and not commonplace in the 80’s. Despite efforts, there was never a DNA match made in CODIS. Throughout the years, investigators had completed multiple follow-up investigations of possible matches for missing people with negative results. 

In January 2023, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the FBI Sacramento Field Office to discuss an investigative approach involving the development of leads leveraging investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) and the potential the investigative technique held for the case. With financial assistance from the NamUS Forensic Unit and the FBI, the case was approved to move forward in November 2023. The Sheriff’s Office then contracted with a private DNA lab to obtain a DNA profile and submitted evidentiary bone samples for testing and analysis. 

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was obtained from the sample to aid the development of a family tree by using publicly accessible genealogy services and law enforcement resources, such as birth certificates and obituaries, to identify potential family members of the unknown profile. In April 2024, Plumas County Sheriff’s Detectives met with the FBI to review the results of the investigative genealogy, which revealed the 1988 homicide victim may be Paul Richard Davis, a former resident of Kern County, California. 

With this new lead, the FBI and Sheriff’s Detectives located two living, blood-related family members of Davis in the Bakersfield area. Plumas County Detectives and FBI Special Agent’s traveled to Bakersfield to contact the relatives and explain the investigative technique that may have identified their relative as the victim. The family members agreed to voluntarily provide DNA samples that were then compared against the DNA profile. 

DNA samples were sent to the California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services for direct comparison. The DNA profile obtained from the victim was also compared to the DNA profiles obtained from the family reference samples submitted for Paul Davis. The comparison of the samples provided strong support that the decedent is related to this family. 

Speaking with family members, Davis lived a transient lifestyle and had substance abuse problems. The family noted Paul would contact them via telephone every six months or so until one day in the early 1980’s, the calls just stopped. The family was not aware of any reason Davis would be in Plumas County and no known family or friends resided in that area. The last contact date with Paul Davis investigators could narrow down was 01/11/1983, when Paul was released from custody in Santa Rosa California for petty theft. 

There is very little information regarding Davis’s past associates and friends. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office is looking for anyone that may have information regarding Paul Richard Davis and how he came to be a victim of homicide in Plumas County. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit at (530) 283-6363.

Mat and Savanna Shaw had a “whirlwind” 24 hours before performing Thursday, March 6, during the opening keynote session of RootsTech 2025.

The father-daughter singing duo — best known for their viral social media duets of uplifting music — had been asked to step in only the day before, after Emmy Award-winning singer/songwriter Rachel Platten dropped out last minute due to “unforeseen complications,” RootsTech leaders said.

Despite the unusual circumstances, Mat Shaw said RootsTech felt like an appropriate audience for him and his daughter because their music is so rooted in family.

Sharing music “has created so many opportunities for our family to be together through that process,” Mat Shaw said. “Our whole family is involved in the music.”

Father-daughter singing duo Mat and Savanna Shaw perform during the RootsTech 2025 opening keynote session on Thursday, March 6, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. | Christie Allred 

They were preceded by Steve Rockwood, president and CEO of FamilySearch International, and Crista Cowan, corporate genealogist at Ancestry. Rachel Platten also briefly joined the proceedings via live video.

RootsTech is a three-day global online and in-person family history conference hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other leading genealogy organizations.

The 2025 event is scheduled for March 6-8, with an in-person event in Salt Lake City and online at RootsTech.org, with select content available in multiple languages.

People attend RootsTech 2025 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News 

See more coverage of RootsTech 2025 and family history

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long emphasized the value and power of family history work, which makes possible the completion of saving ordinances on behalf of deceased ancestors.

Speaking at RootsTech 2017, President Russell M. Nelson said, “As Church members, our interest in family history work has been motivated by instruction from the Lord that our ancestors cannot be made perfect without us and that we cannot be made perfect without them (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:15). That means we are to be linked together by the sacred sealing ordinances of the temple. We are to be strong links in the chain from our ancestors to our posterity.”

‘Discover’

Steve Rockwood, president and CEO of FamilySearch International, speaks at RootsTech 2025 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News 

During his RootsTech 2025 keynote address, Steve Rockwood shared that his great-great-grandfather once tried to introduce oysters and lobsters into the Great Salt Lake. It didn’t work, but if it had, Rockwood joked that his ancestor might have started the “Rockwood Lobster Shack” dynasty.

Rockwood said he learned this story about his great-great-grandfather thanks to “one other source” who simply added what they knew to the global family history research pool. Now he, his children and grandchildren know their own family story better — and therefore know themselves better.

“What is your ‘lobster’ waiting to be discovered? … Have you added what you know in order to unleash the technology and all of us in the industry to begin your journey?” Rockwood said.

“Discover” is the RootsTech 2025 theme, and Rockwood said family history organizations work together so people all over the world can learn everything possible about their families.

“Together we share this relentless pursuit to access all the available information from your ancestral homelands, no matter who you are and no matter where you’re from,” he said. “And when you find it, we strive to assess how accurate it is and ensure that you’re discovering as much truth as possible.”

Andrew Wheelwright, left, helps Carla Canty as Jason Daniels and Ryan Plumb help David Hopper during RootsTech 2025 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News 

Crista Cowan, corporate genealogist at Ancestry, added that an ancestor’s story isn’t complete without information about their friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow worshippers and other nonfamily members who knew and loved them.

“These connections are threads that, when woven together, create the rich tapestry of your ancestors’ lives … [Learn] not just the timeline of ancestors’ lives but the whole story of who they were,” she said.

And speaking via a live video, Rachel Platten shared how becoming a mother helped her rediscover and better love every part of herself. She also shared, in a pre-recorded video, a performance of her song “Girls,” written about her two young daughters.

“I think that loving myself so tenderly, not because of what I’ve done or earned … has allowed me to love my daughters in the same accepting way,” Platten said. “You don’t deserve [another person’s] love only because you’re good or because you’ve done something right, but just because you exist, because you were born.”

Rachel Platten speaks via live video during RootsTech 2025 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Have you ever considered the lifestyles of the individuals depicted in an antique photograph? From where did they originate? What were their hopes and frustrations? Genealogy which is the study of family history helps us connect to our heritage. It teaches us the tales that framed our family history. It's not dates and names; it's a glimpse into history. This exposes the rich tapestry of human experience.

This article illustrates why genealogy must be added to every learner's curriculum. It discusses the tremendous benefits of family history study.

The Basics of Genealogy

Genealogy is a tapestry of stories. Every strand witnesses the triumphs and setbacks that shaped your family's past. It allows you to discover your roots and how history made you who you are today.

Foundational Skills in Family History Research

Learning genealogy basics gives students valuable research skills beyond family history. They learn about family trees. They learn about historical documents too. Then they experiment with the reliability of various sources.

Learning basics of genealogy assists learners in placing historical events into perspective using personal stories. History is no longer in books anymore. It's the history of their family. This makes it more relevant and interesting. These are skills that are priceless for academic achievement and life-long learning.

Tools and Resources for Genealogical Exploration

Discovering your family history requires the application of a number of tools and resources. Libraries, archives, and historical societies are repositories of information. They offer access to census records, immigration records, and so forth. Navigating these resources is a valuable skill. It enables students to access and interpret primary and secondary sources.

Students also learn to ethically collect and organize family history data. They honor privacy and maintain accuracy in their research.

Advantages of Family History Education

Bringing genealogy into the classroom offers many benefits. It helps students learn about history, culture, and themselves.

Enhances Learning and Motivation

Family history education can significantly increase students' interest in history and social studies. If students relate historical events to their families, learning becomes relevant and personalized. History is no longer a dry subject in a textbook but an interesting study of their heritage. This connection makes learning relevant and memorable.

Enhances Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

Analytical and critical thinking abilities are enhanced by genealogical research. Students interpret information, recognize biases in historical documents, and draw conclusions from evidence.

They also learn problem-solving as they chart their family history. They learn to interpret clues and reconstruct their family story. These are fundamental skills for learning history and dealing with the problems of the modern world.

Promotes Cultural Heritage Awareness and Empathy

Learning family history exposes students to varying cultural backgrounds and past experiences. Learning it broadens the value of human history richness. It highlights the accomplishment of various cultures and communities. Learning their own family experience promotes empathy and tolerance for other cultures.

Integrating Genealogy into the Curriculum

Genealogy can be easily integrated into social studies curricula at all levels. For example, students can study a time period by following their ancestors. They see how events like wars, migrations, or economic changes impact their families.

Interdisciplinary Genealogy Activities

Genealogy can begin exciting interdisciplinary activities. Students can combine family history with language arts. They can develop stories about their ancestors. This brings their stories to life in creative writing.

They can learn geography by mapping the migrations of their ancestors. This helps them trace routes over continents and understand why their ancestors migrated. Art is another choice. Students can make visual family trees. They can design family crests or illustrate scenes from their ancestors' lives.

These activities make learning active and interactive. They are appropriate for more than one learning style and foster creativity.

Genealogy for Youth Engagement

Genealogy assignments make students their own bosses. They learn about their heritage and feel more connected to their families and history.

Active Student Engagement

Genealogy assignments create active learning and student-led inquiry. Students are historians, detectives, and writers. They hunt down their ancestors, interview relatives, dig into internet databases, and read historical documents.

This experiential process is engaging and interactive. It raises questions. Students can explore research possibilities and draw their own conclusions.

Family Tree Education and Identity Development

Education on family heritage is at the heart of identity development. It tells students who they are and where they belong. Education on their family history grounds them in the past. This grounding anchors them in their heritage and gives them continuity across generations.

This is especially important for multicultural students. It helps them identify with their culture and value the rich heritage of their families. Adopted children find it giving them a new identity for their family background.

Ethical Concerns in Family History

While carrying out genealogy research, it is critical to factor in ethics. Students should realize the value of ethical research processes.

Ethical Research Practices

Students must acquire ethical research practices. This entails respecting privacy. You should always seek permission prior to collecting family information. This is especially important when conducting research with living relatives. They must understand the value of maintaining records accurately and avoiding spreading false information. Learning how to cite sources is very important. It allows you to recognize credible information and avoid incredible ones.

Ethics play a significant role in learning family history. They help learners acquire accountability and respect towards the past.

Conclusion

Genealogy in the curriculum has numerous benefits. Education is enhanced, critical thinking is enhanced, and cultural awareness is enhanced. It encourages youth participation as well. Teaching family history makes students study their history. This attachment makes them view their current situation clearer and construct a better future.

Genealogy is not just dates and names. It is the human past that unites us. When we bring this subject to classrooms, we allow students to gain valuable skills. They also gain insights into themselves and the world. Let us empower the future generations to dig deep into their roots. Doing so, they can uncover the rich tapestry of their family histories.

RestoredCDC.org mirrors the Centers for Disease Control website as it was before the current administration removed critical information about HIV, reproductive, vaccine, and transgender-related healthcare. While some pages on the real CDC site have since been restored under court order, many now feature a yellow banner rejecting “gender ideology.”

The team behind RestoredCDC says its goal is to provide critical information “from before the potential tampering occurred.”