Have you ever wondered about your ancestors? Who they were and where they lived? You have the opportunity to research these questions and find the answers as you participate in the 4-H Genealogy project. Genealogy, the tracing of your family history, can be a fascinating project. This manual will help you start on a never-ending journey that you will enjoy even after your 4-H career ends.
Objectives
Youth will:
- Create a family tree and learn the names, dates of birth and death, and other biographical information of their ancestors
- Understand how to read a pedigree chart and to research genealogical information online and through library or local history organization resources
- Interview family members to create a written record of their family history
- Document customs, traditions, and beliefs common to family members
- Explore relevant local history sites such as museums, historic houses, cemeteries, and historical markers
4-H Genealogy Curriculum
Available in the Extension office or online
This popular genealogy project book guides you through six years of activities. Discover your family history as you go on a treasure hunt for jewels of information such as interesting relatives, special events, and curious stories of days gone by. The records you create will last a lifetime.
Genealogy: Tracing my Family Tree
Have you ever wondered about your ancestors? Who they were and where they lived? You have the opportunity to research these questions and find the answers as you participate in the 4-H Genealogy project. Genealogy, the tracing of your family history, can be a fascinating project. This manual will help you start on a never-ending journey that you will enjoy even after your 4-H career ends.
Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides
For youth members
Coming soon!
For adult helpers and club leaders
Coming soon!
Helpful Resources
Activity Ideas
Discover 4-H: Family History Clubs – Utah 4-H (PDF)
A step by step guide for family history or genealogy clubs with activities for club leaders to go through with their youth.
Activities from Growing Little Leaves: Genealogy for Children
Printables from Growing Little Leaves: Genealogy for Children
Genealogy Activities for Kids! National Archives
4-H Try It Activity: Family Heritage (YouTube video)
In this activity from Illinois 4-H, youth learn how to create a family tree.
Washington Specific Reference Material
Genealogy for Kids: Washington State Library (PDF)
Bibliography of useful reference books for kids starting out in genealogical research.
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
Genealogical Resources: Legacy Washington: Washington Secretary of State
Washington State Archives – Digital Archives
Washington State Genealogical Society
Washington State Historical Society
Washington History and Genealogy Societies
Listing of regional, county, and city genealogy and history groups.
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State
JGSWS helps our members find their Jewish family roots. We hold monthly meetings with guest lecturers, and we sponsor workshops. We offer programs for beginners as well as seasoned researchers. Past topics included immigration records, Jewish given names, forensic genealogy, genealogical research on the Internet, how to find an ancestral town, and how to create a family health portrait.
Washington Genealogy is being developed as a genealogical and historical resource for your personal use. It contains information and records for Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Specifically, it provides sources for birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, court records, and military records. It also provides some historical details about different times and people in Washington history.
State of Washington Records Guide: Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
- Washington State Library Resources
Genealogy at the Washington State Library
Genealogy Collection Bibliographies: Washington State Library
Digital Collections and Resources: Washington State Library
The Washington State Library offers several digital collections from its many historical resources. All of these collections will continue to grow as more books, maps, newspapers and manuscripts are scanned.
Other Reference Material
From 4-H Programs
4-H Genealogy Research presented in partnership with Indiana Historical Society (video)
4-H Advanced Genealogy Webinar (video)
Pedigree Chart – Indiana 4-H (PDF)
Diary of Work – Indiana 4-H (PDF)
For youth to record where they look for sources, interviews, and other genealogy activities. Fillable PDF.
Genealogy Research Checklist – Indiana 4-H (PDF)
For recording where records have been sought for an individual on the family tree.
From Higher Education Institutions
From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals
Growing Little Leaves: Genealogy for Children
A free genealogy site with extensive record collections available once users create an account. Users are able to share family trees and the site will update family tree entries as other users connect records to ancestors. Most records are available online, the few that are not are available in the organization’s reading rooms. The site Wiki features a Guided Research section to help those new to genealogy get started. Run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
A genealogy site index sorted by state. Features state-specific information on finding records.
Gravesite database for many cemeteries. Volunteer run, so if there are gaps in information, users can also register for a free account and request photographs from other users or add to the database as they research their ancestors. Site also features space for users to add biography about those buried at these gravesites.
- U.S. National Research Archives
Family History for Kids: Library of Congress
Sharing research, records and family lore can help build connections between members of your extended family, and can help family members make connections with their ancestors, and with history generally. There are many different activities kids can can do with adults or by themselves to help build the family tree and discover information that has been lost, as well as sharing stories and connections with other living relatives.
Library of Congress Digital Collections
Includes maps, some major newspapers, military history, and many other topics.
A collection of maps used by the Sanborn Fire Insurance Company to assess fire risk, these maps contain information on the structures they feature, from the number of stories on a house to what it was build from. They can be useful to researchers in determining when a house was built or if the house on a lot is the same one from years past. They can also give information on businesses and neighborhood characteristics.
National Parks Service Soldiers and Sailors Database
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) is a database containing information about the men who served in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Other information on the site includes histories of Union and Confederate regiments, links to descriptions of significant battles, and selected lists of prisoner-of-war records and cemetery records, which will be amended over time. The CWSS is a cooperative effort between the National Park Service and several public and private partners whose goal is to increase Americans’ understanding of this decisive era in American history by making information about it widely accessible.
- Kits, Projects, and Activities from National 4-H
None available at this time.