Some family history enthusiasts and scrapbookers decide to delve deeper into their past by tracing their family tree. Each individual becomes a link in a chain that reaches into the past and forward into the future. Some seekers get so hooked – they become like history detectives. One mystery leads to another.
Many of these seekers – also called genealogists - began to think of researching their family tree at the time of a significant family event. It could be at a new birth, a marriage, birthday, anniversary or at the time of the passing of a close relative.
Family Tree of the Sliwa Family
The Sliwa family of Canada began their search for their family roots when an aunt, Elizabeth Sliwa, took it on as project coordinator after the passing of her father. Cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews – and anyone who would listen - were enlisted to help. How did they find the information?
- phone calls,
- letters and emails,
- personal visits requesting photos,
- accessing dates, addresses, phone numbers,
- obtaining official documents that might be related to the family.
The detective work took eight years and culminated in a 225 page illustrated scrapbook called the Sliwa Story: Galicia Austria to Canada. The research and “labour of love” stretched from the Canadian east to west coast and into Austria.
The final book contains:
- historical maps,
- hundreds of photos (historical & current),
- land title documents,
- vital certificates and records,
- family name lineage,
- passenger lists,
- diaries and sketch drawings.
A Family History
Many family members also contributed journal entries to add their personal touch. The result is a treasured personal family history. Some of the younger family members chuckled when they discovered that their family roots actually did go back to the horse and buggy days and a hand-operated spinning wheel. Then there was the humourous 1930 report about the relative who gave each of his daughters a dowry of six cows, a feather quilt, two pillows, some bedding and a few dishes.
The adults in the family were amazed to read that this homesteading pioneer family had no central heating. Elizabeth Sliwa writes, “the house was built of logs and plastered inside with clay……It was not insulated so during the winter months Dad piled manure around the outer perimeter and then banked it with snow. The house was heated by burning wood in a tin box stove.” (Those feather quilts probably came in very handy!)
This 100 year history tells of family experiences with drought and hail, disease, tornados, debt, land agent fraud, a flu epidemic, fires, depression and war. But there was also much merriment with music, dancing, singing, extraordinary large organic food gardens, delicious home-cooked meals, freshly picked berries, and plenty of fun and games – of the non-computer type.
Genealogy and Scrapbooking
Genealogy and scrapbooking can be fascinating hobbies to pursue. They can help people understand where they came from and where they may be headed. There can be many interesting unique experiences to discover and explore. Family history buffs have produced amazing creations well beyond the boring binder full of records – there are quilts, digital collages and 3-D artifacts. Heritage scrapbooking is a way to organize your photos and create memory albums.
Fortunately there are now many resources including computer programs to help preserve one’s own family history and make them come alive. Some resources include local libraries, archives, online sites and books such as: Scrapbooking Your Family History by Laura Best, (Sterling/Chapelle 2007).
Although the Sliwa family did not find they were related to a famous family such as the Romanov's or even Alexander Graham Bell, their historic journey was still very worthwhile.
The craft of scrapbooking can also add extra creativity to a family tree.
Bev Yaworski - Bev Yaworski is a published writer and photographer for magazines such as Green & Organic Lifestyles, various parenting publications such ...
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