Elena Kiseleva

Practicing genealogist.

Everyone has thought about their roots at least once. Of course, we know the place of birth of our parents. If we're lucky, we're familiar with our grandparents' story. What next? Dispossession, wars and repressions erased a lot of information from family archives. And the passport system in Russia was introduced relatively recently - at the beginning of the twentieth century. Until this time, documentary information about a person was kept in government agencies or churches.

Because of this, families are left with only vague memories and legends about their ancestors. But the older and wiser you become, the more clearly you understand how important it is to know your roots. We'll show you how to get information about your ancestors.

Step one. Organization of information storage system

A pedigree is a family archive, which implies a system for storing information. A variant of such a system is sites for compiling pedigrees.

Their advantages:

• Possibility of access from different devices and anywhere in the world.
• Ability to upload photos, documents and other information.
• The ability to invite relatives to the site, who will be able to enter information and share their documents and photographs.

After choosing a suitable site, fill out personal cards for each relative with the information that is currently available.

Step two. Analysis of family documents and photographs

Surely, somewhere on the mezzanine everyone has a box, or even a suitcase with such a legacy. Forgotten documents, photographs, postcards, letters and other traces of history can be useful. Carefully study and analyze their contents.

Please note:

• Dates in documents. Enter dates and related events into the card index for each person. In constructing a genealogy, dates are key starting points for subsequent work in the archive.
• Signatures on the reverse side of the photographs. Sometimes the age can be found along with the year the photograph was taken, allowing the year of birth to be calculated. Open frames with old photographs. On the back you can find cherished dates and other messages from your ancestors.
• Photos of relatives in uniform. Based on the uniform, you can determine the type of military service and military rank, as well as approximately determine the year of the photograph, if it is not indicated on the back. It doesn't matter if you are not an expert in this field. Now on many genealogy forums (for example, the VGD Genealogical Forum) you can find enthusiasts knowledgeable about the topic who will be happy to help with their expertise.

At this stage, gaps in family history are often identified. For example, you may find a photo with a person unknown to you or, conversely, you will not find a single card of your beloved grandfather. Perhaps the documents will open earlier unknown facts that you might want to know more about.

Step three. Communication with relatives

Surely you have a lot of questions after analyzing the photos and documents. To avoid missing anything and get a more complete picture of your ancestor, use these questions in your conversation:

• Last name, first name and patronymic (for a woman - maiden name).
• Date and place of birth.
• Date and place of burial, if the person is no longer alive.
• Last name, first name and patronymic of father and mother.
• Nationality.
• Brothers and sisters, their dates of life.
• Children, their dates of life.
• Last name, first name and patronymic of the wife (husband).
• Where and when did you study, what education did you receive, what was your specialty.
• Occupation and place of occupation: where, by whom and when he worked.
• What events of broad social significance did he participate in (war, development of the north or virgin lands).
• Religion.
• Awards, titles.
• Which class did he belong to (before 1917).
• Character traits, interests, inclinations.
• Sources of information about a person: publications in the press, the Internet, letters, memories.

Record your answers during a conversation in a convenient format. Make a note about the source of information: indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of the relative, who he is related to the ancestor being studied, the current date.

Ask if your relative has photographs of an ancestor or documents from which you can learn additional facts about life. But you shouldn’t limit yourself to just them. At this step, facts and dry dates are filled with emotions and memories. Write down all interesting events, even if they did not have a significant impact on the course of family history.

Step four. Internet search

Our ancestors did not see the boom of social networks. Information about them is stored on paper in government agencies. However, some information can still be found on the Internet. Thus, in recent years, a lot of data from military archives from the First and Second World Wars has been declassified, digitized and published.

Information can be found on these resources:

• First World War 1914–1918. Alphabetical lists of losses of lower ranks.
• Feat of the people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.
• VIPTs "Fatherland".

All databases have a search bar where you can enter the name you are looking for and find the desired person in the drop-down list. In some databases you can view and download the original document where your ancestor is mentioned.

All databases were created manually by transferring data from paper sources. Therefore, when searching, it is worth taking into account the human factor and looking for a surname in different variations.

Step five. Working with archival documents

In archival documents you can find information that relates to personal data: full name, date of birth, date of death, date of marriage. Depending on the statute of limitations and the type of document, information may be stored in the registry office or city archives. The websites of these institutions indicate the conditions for the provision of such services, terms and address where to contact.

The full name, year and place of birth of the person about whom you are requesting information are required for the search.

Electronic requests can be sent to both institutions, but the registry office will ask you to come in person with an identity document to receive information and will ask to see the person for whom the information is being requested.

The archive responds within a month. In response to the request, a receipt for payment for services is sent.

After receiving payment, workers begin a search, which can last another month.

You may be told that there is no information on this person in the archive. This could happen if one of the three criteria was invalid. In this case, it is recommended to expand the search by year or neighboring settlements.

If the search is successful, you will receive a certificate from the archive about your ancestor. It will contain all the information that is in the original source, but the archive will not send a copy of the historical document itself. If you are interested in a copy, check the website for reception hours and the procedure for accessing documents and visit the archive in person.

If you live or often visit Europe or the USA, there is another option. Resident Database former countries The Church of Jesus Christ of Saints has CIS last days(Mormons). In the 90s, they toured the archives and digitized most of the documents: parish books, population censuses, audit tales. For a relatively small amount of money, you can gain access to this information. The data is stored at the Mormon headquarters in Salt Lake City in the form of microfilm, which can only be viewed on equipment located on the premises of churches in cities in Europe and the United States.

Microfilms can be ordered from the FamilySearch website. There you can select a convenient city and make payment. Shipping takes about a month. The site states that copying materials is prohibited, but not everything is so hopeless. The argument “I flew from distant Russia especially for these purposes” is considered weighty, and it is quite possible to obtain permission.

Compiling a family tree is a fascinating process, similar to archaeological excavations and detective work. When you find information about your ancestors, you feel like you have found a treasure. And this is not far from the truth, because this piece of family history is truly priceless.

If a child at school or kindergarten was asked to draw a family tree of his family, with the help of this article you can easily complete the task.

Many people are drawn to their roots. They are interested in who their ancestors were, what their fate was. Therefore, the fashion for family trees and family trees has returned. The path of least resistance is to use an online program on the Internet or download an application that allows you to quickly create a colorful family diagram with photos. But a family tree created with your own hands will have much more soul. The child is often asked to do it.

How to correctly draw a family tree: template, diagram

Family tree is a diagram family ties within the family, sometimes for convenience and beauty, depicted in the form of a tree with a trunk and crown.

IMPORTANT: In a big city, it is not always possible to regularly communicate even with your closest relatives. Most of us know or remember at most great-grandparents. Family ties weaken and are interrupted, but a person without a family is like a tree without roots, lonely and weak.

On the Internet today there are a lot of sites that allow you to create a template family tree with a photo using special programs. You can also download a frame for several photos and insert portraits of family members into it in Photoshop. It's fast, convenient and, of course, beautiful.

Family tree: example of a children's frame for Photoshop.

But drawing up a generic diagram with your own hands has a lot of advantages:

1. You have the opportunity to spend time in the creative process yourself, with your relatives and children.
2. You will pay tribute to your ancestors, return to the origins of your family, learn or remember many interesting and funny stories.
3. If you make a diagram with photos, you will organize pictures of your family members.
4. A beautiful and neat family tree is an interesting interior decoration.
5. If you make a family tree with the birthdays of relatives, with the designation of the wedding days of the spouses, you will never forget to congratulate them.

So where to start? How to draw a diagram correctly?

First of all, you need to figure out what type it will have. After all, a tree is a conventional name. The pedigree can be depicted schematically, where male relatives are “leaves” in the form of squares, female relatives are round “leaves”, and the connection between them is indicated by branches - arrows. If a tree is created together with a child, it is worth considering its artistic design, depicting it in the form of a tree, cutting out and pasting photographic portraits of relatives on its branches.
Next, decide what your pedigree will look like:

1. Descending is the most common and convenient type. Such a tree begins to be compiled from the most distant relative. Usually, this is a man, since traditionally our family is passed down through the male line. The vertical “branches” of a tree pass down to its descendants, the family ties between them are indicated by horizontal “branches”.
2. Ascending is a type of scheme that is used when there is little information about a person’s ancestors. In the “trunk” of the tree is the person for whom it is being compiled. And at the top, in ascending order, his relatives in past generations are placed. When drawing up a family tree with your child (and it most often ends with great-grandparents), choose this option.

Family tree: descending diagram.

Family tree: ascending diagram.

Now take a pen and notepad, try to remember your relatives, if necessary, their dates of birth, death, marriage dates, and other information. This may require raising documents.
No matter how detailed a family tree is, it will not be possible to indicate on it all the information about relatives. If you take the issue seriously, make a card for each relative with all the information known and important to you.
If you want to make an artistic family tree with photos, choose the ones you will use in advance.

VIDEO: How to make a family tree correctly?

How to make a family tree for your family: sample

Are you an active Internet user? To compile a family tree, use free programs:

• "SimTree"
• "GRAMPS"
• "GeneWeb"
• "GeneoTree"
• “Family Chronicle”, “Tree of Life” (only demo versions are free)

Family tree in the Family tree program.

Family tree in the “Chronicle of Life” program.

Are you drawn to independent creativity? Take one of these circuits as an example.

Family tree: diagram.

Family tree: example.

Simple family tree template.

Antique pedigree.

How to draw a family tree with a pencil step by step for a child?

In order to draw a family tree with a child, you will need:

• simple pencil
• eraser
• colored pencils, markers, paints
• ruler
• scissors
• photo of family members

IMPORTANT: Students are usually asked to draw a family tree junior classes or preschoolers. In class, dedicated to family, the child is asked to talk about all the family members shown in the diagram, so do not make the tree extensive. Show on it only those relatives whom the child knows and about whom he can talk.

1. Place the sheet in front of you, preferably horizontally.
2. Using a simple pencil, draw a tree trunk and branches.
3. Draw the crown. How realistic it will be depends on the age of the child and his creative abilities.
4. Designate a space on the table at the top of the tree for the child's name and/or photo.
5. Just below, accurately identify his parents.
6. On the branches of the trees, place relatives from mom and dad's side, respectively (grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, if any).
7. Draw a family tree so that the generations are next to each other in ascending order: mom and dad, lower down - grandparents, even lower - great-grandparents.
8. Draw relatives from the same generation side by side horizontally.
9. Connect all relatives with horizontal and vertical arrows.
10. Color the background as you wish, the trunk and branches of the tree - brown, leaves – green. If there are photo frames, frame them too.
11. Take the prepared photos, carefully cut out portraits of family members, and paste them on the appropriate places.
12. Label the family tree. For example, “Petrov family tree”, “Anya Petrova and her family”, “My family”, etc.

Family tree in pencil: step 1.

Family tree in pencil: step 2.

Family tree in pencil: step 3.

Family tree in pencil: step 4.

Family tree in pencil: step 5.

Family tree in pencil: step 6.

Family tree in pencil: step 7.

Family tree in pencil: step 8.

Family tree in pencil: step 9.

Family tree in pencil.

IMPORTANT: Frames for photos of each relative can be made in the form of leaves, apples, etc., then the tree will turn out brighter and more beautiful.

Draw a tree trunk and branches.

Draw a crown. We schematically outline places - “apples” for family members.

We detail the drawing and color it.

We design the background. We write family members into the “apples” or paste in their photos.

VIDEO: Drawing your family tree

Family tree: pencil drawing for children

Here is another example of how to draw a family tree with a pencil with a child. The principle is almost the same, but the leaf is placed vertically, and for the child the place is determined at the bottom of the tree.

Designing a descending family tree: steps 1-3.

Designing a descending family tree: steps 4-6.

Be creative when designing a family tree for your child. Use techniques: VIDEO: DIY family tree: scrapbooking

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« Family tree" - this is the name given to a schematic tree-like representation of family ties, where the ancestor is located at the “roots”, and the “branches” represent the lines of his descendants.

In the past, it was stylized to resemble a real tree, and such a scheme was considered very convenient for perception and formation of ideas about the development of each specific genus. Also called a family tree is a depiction of genealogies in the form of descending or ascending genealogies or genealogical tables.

Family tree template

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The circular table is a private option, and therefore rarely used by geneology. The variant of “mixed ascending pedigree” is also not very common, in which the ancestor is located in the center, with lines extending to the ancestors on the paternal and maternal lines. Similar tables are typical for English and French genealogy. The person whose ancestors are being studied is placed in the center of the circle, the outer one, the second circle is divided in half, and the father and mother are indicated in it. In the third, concentric circle, divided into 4 parts, grandparents and so on are written down. To this day, tables of ascending ancestry are necessary to represent those entering the Order of Malta (a knightly organization whose charter requires evidence of the origin of a sufficient number of ancestors).

Anyone who is interested in their ancestry and wants to build a family tree knows that this is quite difficult to do. However, now there are many ways to help build your own pedigree using special devices. Thus, a family tree, the program for which can be freely downloaded on the Internet, can be built completely intuitively, if, of course, you have the necessary data. This, undoubtedly, significantly increases the popularity and importance of conducting research into the history of one’s surname.

Family tree

Family tree of the Zhukovs

Some services offer family tree building for free, which also attracts many users. This creates the preconditions for a massive passion for studying genealogies of a wide variety of families. If at first it is not clear to you exactly how to build a family tree, then you can download a ready-made family tree. Its template can help you form your own structure and fill it with the content you have.

As you can see, you can create a family tree on your own, without the help of specialists. But the same cannot be said about the actual acquisition of information with which you will fill the family tree. Here you cannot do without the help of historians-archivists, unless of course you want to get to the very roots. As an example, you can refer to the Romanov family tree, which is still popular today. Who knows, maybe among your ancestors there was someone of royal blood.

Common family trees for surnames:

• Tree of Ivanov, 6%
• Petrov tree, 4%
• Mazurov tree 3.8%
• Genealogy of the Belozerskys, 2.6%

Having compiled a family genealogical tree, it can be passed on to children and grandchildren, who will continue to refine and supplement it, honoring the memory of their ancestors and increasing the authority of the family. This is where they will help special means, such as a family tree program that is very easy to download for free. The interfaces of such programs usually do not cause any difficulties; you can learn how to work quickly and very easily. On average, you can find up to 25 connections for one surname or family.

Compiling a family tree can radically change the life of your entire family and will influence all future generations. The presence of great ancestors will help maintain respect and imitation among the younger generations of the family. Currently, experts recommend having a family tree in every family, because it will have a positive impact on the attitude towards the family’s past and history in general.

Example of a simple Tree

Consequently, it is very difficult to overestimate the importance of the family tree for modern man. It is capable of performing cognitive, educational, stimulating and many other functions. The family tree program, which is offered for free download by a wide variety of sites, will help in the best possible way organize work on structuring the available information, avoiding repetitions and inaccuracies.

Thus, the process of compiling a family tree will not take much time, will not require a lot of effort, and is accessible to everyone. There is always the opportunity to download a family tree template and, based on the example received, order information search and compilation by specialists. IN in this case In addition to a beautiful family tree, you will receive the accuracy and quality of the information contained in it.

By using modern technologies you can supplement the information contained in the family tree with other documents that reveal the content of each important event that happened in your family. In addition, illustrating family history with diaries and special albums, which can also be ordered from specialized companies, is quite widespread.

Everyone has thought at least once about who his ancestors are, where his family comes from, and based on the stories of his grandparents, he creates his own family tree...

From Masterweb

19.04.2018 00:01

Everyone has thought at least once about who their ancestors are, where their family comes from, and, based on the stories of their grandparents, they create a family tree with their own hands. Each of us compiled a pedigree for school, but not everyone will be able to remember how to do it correctly. In this article we will tell you in detail how to independently, without knowledge in the field of genealogy, find out and compile your pedigree. A family tree will allow your descendants to remember your relatives.

Why do you need to know your pedigree?

Drawing up a family tree requires motivation. Some will consider it a complete waste of time, while others constantly put off compiling a family tree until later. Having an idea of ​​why this should be done at all, everyone will think about drawing up a pedigree.

1. With age, everyone develops a certain sentimentality. Everyone notices that grandparents begin to remember their distant relatives and great-grandfathers. Give them a little joy, make a family tree with your own hands, show the old people that family is important to you and you remember your roots.
2. If you have children, then create a family tree to instill in your child respect for their roots. Children should remember their ancestors, know the history of the family and its traditions.
3. The genealogical family tree will clearly show you how big the clan is, how many relatives you have - feel like part of history, a big family.
4. Satisfy your curiosity: perhaps you have nobles or even kings in your family! What if you currently have a celebrity in your family, and you don’t even know it?

Professionals in compiling family trees do not recommend starting a search for ancestors among nobles and historical celebrities, since this is a very troublesome and, most importantly, expensive task. Basically, the data on such individuals is indirect, and searching for relatives among them will not lead to a 100% positive result. People who have nobles and historical celebrities in their family usually know about this. If you don’t have data on this, then most likely they won’t be found.

What to use when searching for ancestors

Today, folders with documents in the archive have already lost their relevance; no one will group their family into in paper form. The easiest way is to use special programs for recording and notes that are available to all Internet users. Such programs will allow you to conveniently and beautifully arrange the collected information and display it in a neat form.

Online programs will help you find relatives and ancestors. Almost all such services are paid, but they provide good result quickly, efficiently and in full.

Online programs are convenient because you just need to register in them, enter your data, if you have photos of ancestors or distant relatives, then upload them to the service, and it will independently create a graphic family tree.

Pay attention to how long the service on which you decide to register works. If he is still young, he will most likely give out information that is not entirely accurate. There is also a huge possibility that one day the program will simply cease to exist, and all the data you entered will disappear on the Internet.

Good services for compiling a family tree

We offer a list of proven programs that have been “living” for quite a long time, they store a lot of information about people, among which one hundred percent there will be at least one, but your relative:

• http://genealogia.ru/genealogicheskaya-programma is a popular online program. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that when entering information, the peculiarity of the Russian family is taken into account - patronymic!
• Website of the All-Russian family tree. It contains information about all historical figures whose relatives are currently alive and living in Russia.
• Center for Genealogical Research. Communication takes place in a forum where everyone can tell each other something. Also on the site you can find an archive of documents on chronology, estates, registration, land ownership and other information.
• Website of the Russian Noble Assembly. It stores information about all descendants (including possible ones) who belong to the noble class.
• familyspace.ru is a family social networking site where you can find lost relatives, chat with people who know your relatives or know your ancestors.

Free programs for compiling a pedigree

In addition to many paid programs, there are good free ones that will help you create a family tree.

1. “Tree of Life” - on this site you can find relatives and find out the degree of relationship with a particular person. You can upload information about yourself, your ancestors and descendants, photos and video files.
2. "Family Chronicle" - creating a colorful, bright tree! Save photos, documents, videos and other information about your family.

Of course, these programs are free only if you provide trial information. To use the full interface, you need to pay a small amount - within reason.

Start of tree formation

If you are interested in how to draw a family tree with your own hands, then you should not refuse online programs, they will help you learn more about the family.

Start building a family tree with yourself - this is the easiest option. Cut out the photo, paste it on a piece of paper from the very top, write brief information (date of birth, first name, last name and patronymic).

If you have children, attach their photo next to yours. Record information with degree of relationship.

If your personal knowledge has dried up, seek the help of older relatives.

Survey of relatives

You should not gather all the grandparents in one room for a survey. As a rule, their knowledge may differ, they will begin to argue, disrupting your pace of work on compiling a family tree.

Visit each relative separately (on the mother's side and on the father's side, be sure!), Let them talk about their ancestors and relatives in a calm atmosphere.

If opinions are divided, then draw up a pedigree based on the data that agree, this will ensure the least error.

Collection of photographs

The penultimate stage is collecting photos. Look for them in family albums, from grandmothers, great-grandmothers.

If photographs of some relatives were not found, you should not remove them from the tree. Ask what they looked like, try to at least roughly depict them (hair color, eye color, approximate body type). Don't be afraid to draw, even if you have no skills at all!

How to draw a family tree

Having collected information and photographs, proceed directly to creating the tree. It’s not difficult at all, use the instructions, which tell you in detail how to draw a family tree with your own hands.

1. At the root of the tree there should be a photo of the oldest member of the family (determine by degree of relationship, date of birth).
2. Make branches from the elder to which you attach photographs of his children. The branches from the children are their children.
3. Form the tree carefully, clearly, attaching photos higher and higher until you get to your photo and the photo of your children.
4. Make the branches of the closest relatives higher, and the distant ones (cousins, etc.) - to the sides.
5. Finally, decorate the tree with a crown and leaves, draw a trunk and root.

You can see an example (photo) of a family genealogical tree in this article. Based on it, you can easily create your own.

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