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Robyn Mishak
Geneaolgists, family historians and how the search for information
17:610:510:02- Human Information Behavior
Final Paper
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The study of genealogy has also been of interest to me, with a background in history I
had the desire to create my own family tree. This has yet to have happened but it is a project I
plan to peruse in the future. It is important to define what both a genealogist and a family
historian are. “The terms genealogy and family historian are used very inconsistently and have
been used interchangeably. Some consider genealogists to be individuals who conduct
genealogical research professionally, on behalf of others and family historians are those who
pursue genealogy for themselves on an amateur basis.” Yakel goes on to argue that both
genealogists and family historians can be professional but their differences lie “in the
expectations surrounding both the process and the products of the activity.” (Yakel, Seeking
Information. pg,2). In some of the literature I have found there is no distinction between a
genealogists and a family historian however, they described some as professional or armature.
Webster-Marian dictionary online, simply defines a genealogists as “a person who traces or
studies the decent of persons or families”. This could be both a family historian and a
genealogist, professional or not. In this paper I plan on using these two terms interchangeable,
while making note on where the information pertains to professional or amateur genealogists.
Genealogy has had a long tumultuous history, which dates back to the eighteenth century.
This time was considered “the golden age of bad genealogy”, which seems to be somewhat of an
oxymoron. How can a time period be considered golden but bad at the same time? During this
time genealogy became popular but stories allude to the idea that people paid for their family tree
without doing any research (Tucker, 134). This caused the study to be looked at as illegitimate.
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries there was a divide between historians, librarians
and archivists, genealogists. Genealogists were seen as gatecrashers polluting academia (Tucker,
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134). In addition to this attitude towards the people studying genealogy, there were intolerances
towards the idea of genealogy. There were strong feelings of nationalism throughout the western
world and to have a desire to study your family tree was considered “anti-American” (Tucker,
135) During these times genealogy was used to justify race and class-based prejudices, including
a justification of slavery (Tucker, 136). With all of the negativity surrounding genealogy its
popularity still continued to grow, culminating during the 1970’s when Alex Haley’s novel Roots
came out. The book caused a reassessment of genealogy and historian, genealogists, and
archivists began promoting the study of social history. Within this study was the history of the
family. A majority of the genealogical societies in Canada, the UK and the US were formed in
the 1960’s and the 1970’s. These societies contributed in many different ways to the access to
records (Tucker, 138). Lastly, in the 1990’s the Internet helped the study grow by introducing
new places to hold and transfer information (Tucker, 131). Now genealogy is as popular and as
easy as ever to participate in.
Genealogy is interesting when considering human information behavior. It is everyday
information seeking that requires the use of libraries and archives. To build an understanding of
HIB and genealogists I have sought out different types of literature including topic such as
library science, and sociology. Many of the people who search their lineage or family history are
amateurs. It is considered a hobby or a leisure activity that requires vast amounts of information.
People who practice genealogy wish to construct their past, create and preserve memories, as
well as create an identity for themselves that they can be proud of. There are many different
ways they search for and organize their information. The Internet has made genealogy very
popular and has helped with the locating and sharing of information. In addition to the Internet
most genealogists or family historians still use the library or archives as sources for their
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information. While they all use the same materials and resources, their abilities and ways in
which they search for their information is different. After they start to find and construct their
information, it has different affects on them and what they thought about their ancestry. The
ways in which genealogists seek information can be related to Social Constructivism and Sensemaking theories depends on the stage in which the genealogist is in. Finally there appears to be a
lasting affect on the library profession that should be recognized and embraced.
The first thing to discuss in human information behavior is who is doing the information
seeking. In the case of genealogy, anyone can search his or her family history. This study spans
many social boundaries. There are some trends, none of which are 100 percent consistent but are
worth making note of. “More than four and ten adults, or 113 million are at least somewhat
interested in genealogy, according to a 1995 pole conducted by Maritz Marketing Research for
American Demographics. Seven percent, or 19 million, say there are involved a great deal in
tracing their lineage” (Fulkerson, 2). This study was done in 1995 and it is possible that this
number has grown by many more since then. This also does not account for the numbers outside
of the United States. This article identifies middle-aged adults as the information seekers for
family history. Fifty percent of adult’s aged 45-64, 47 percent of adults aged 35-44, and 46
percent of adults aged 25-34 years are involved as well (Fulkerson, 20). It is clear that around
half of adults ranging in age from 25-64 years are involved in studying their genealogy. There is
a vast difference in age here, which shows that not one single age group studies their lineage a
lot more then another. However, there is one age group that is involved a great deal in genealogy,
adults from ages 35-44. These people have very little free time but it is believed their search for
their lineage is due to some sort of rootlessness (Fulkerson, 2).
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Genealogy requires a lot of time and diligence but it does not require a lot of money to be
involved. Income does not play a role in determining who is moderately researching their family
tree. The very people at the very bottom of the income scale do not participate; only 27 percent
of households with an income of 15,000 dollars are involved in their family history. It is
important to note that these people may not be able to afford any hobbies at all. When it comes to
being very involved in genealogy, money is an issue. Adults with incomes at 55,000 dollars or
more a year are much more likely to be involved a great deal in their genealogy at around 13
percent (Fulkerson, 2). With the use of the Internet it is very easy to search for information at
little to no cost. However, traveling to different archives or overseas is where the need for money
is important. People who are somewhat involved in their genealogy may be happy using their
computer or their state archives but those who are greatly involved many feel the need to travel
farther distances to gather their information. This makes the difference between being
“somewhat involved” and “greatly involved”.
Difference between men and women was only discussed by one article. In Karla B.
Hackstaff’s article “Who are We? Genealogists Negotiation Etho-Racial Identities” she identifies
women as the gender most likely to practice family history. She states to reasons for women
being the family historians. As both men and women age and enter retirement, women tend to
outlive the men and will have more time for their research. Second, women just have a greater
interest in family history, which could cause their work as the family historian. She quotes C.
Nash saying “In genealogy, women are often simultaneously central as keepers and tellers of
family history [and] marginalized in research based on one family” (Hackstaff, 180-181).
Although this is the only article that mentions women being the primary family historians, I
believe this to have some truth. As I have read through the articles I found that most of the
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studies done by the authors had primarily women subjects. This leads me to believe that majority
of the people available to do the studies were women, because the ratio of women to men
favored women in the study of genealogy.
Another important aspect of human information behavior is the notion of “why?” Why do
different groups of people search for information in general? General curiosity may provoke
family historians to search for and re-create the lives and stories of their ancestors (Cordova, 41).
In Elizabeth Yakel’s study, “Seeking Information, Seeking Connections, Seeking Meaning:
Genealogists and Family Historians” she found that many of her interviewees were intrigued by
family stories. Adding that “years later some triggering event, usually a birth or death, would
signal the formal initiation of genealogical research” (Yakel, Information Seeking. Pg 5). This
could cause a strong desire in people to document their family history. This can be caused by the
realization that the older generations that hold the most knowledge about a family’s past may not
be around forever. Yakel also states that when it comes to family history “the ultimate need is
not a fact or date, but to create a larger narrative, connect with others in the past and in the
present, and to find coherence in one’s own life” (Yakel, Seeking information pg 1). People want
to find the story of their family and to feel a connection with the people who have passed before
them. Finding all of this information can lead to a better sense of self.
One sociologically based article discuses the “memory work” of post-holocaust
genealogists. In “Trauma and Origins: Post-Holocaust Genealogists and the Work of Memory”
the author Arlene Stein argues “that those who engage in post-holocaust genealogy are searching
for coherent narratives that place their own origin in the context of the families into which they
were born” (Stein, 293). She discusses that idea that “post-holocaust genealogists, operating in
the context of families in which the traumatic past was typically off-limits, and having grown up
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with little knowledge of their ancestral heritage, are content to reach back only one or two
generations—to their parents or their grandparents. They are not merely hobbyists seeking a
vicarious connection with unknown ancestors: they are individuals for who war and genocide
severed a connection to their familial roots, who wish to construct a sense of continuity” (Stein,
294). In many cases what happened during and directly after the holocaust was not discussed
within families. Also, many survivors did not want to discuss their life in Europe before the war
because it caused too much pain. The children of survivors did not get opportunities to learn
about their history and as they got older the decision was made to start the search. The driving
factor in trying to recreate their history is that “being denied information about one’s biological
parentage leads to a sense or inauthenticity, or having a ‘false’ self, and not feeling connected to
anyone” (Stein, 294). The feeling of having no identity leads these family historian to find out
about their past.
The next part of this paper discusses the methodology of genealogists. How they search,
where they search and how they construct their information is important to know in relation to
genealogists and the library profession. A prominent article in information behavior literature
discusses how they search and what information they are looking for. “Where Is the List with All
the Names? Information-Seeking Behavior of Genealogists” by Wendy M. Duff and Catherine
A. Johnson is a noteworthy and well-known study in this field. It is sited in much of the research
that was found to include in this paper. The paper discusses the study done with ten genealogists.
They found information on the stages of research, how genealogists’ research, the access to
tools, the knowledge they require and the barriers they face.
The first topic of Duff and Johnson’s paper discusses the stages of genealogical research.
There are three major stages to genealogists’ research. The first stage is collecting family
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members names, the second is finding detailed information on individual family members and
the third is finding the societal or historical background of the time period in which the
individuals lived (Duff and Johnson, 83). While some of these steps may be difficult for
searcher, all of these steps help to create a well-rounded look at someone’s family tree. To
complete the first and second stage a genealogists will search by names. All of genealogists in
this study looked for lists of names, names indexes, or search engines that retrieved by name.
Searching by name causes a few different problems. This includes trying to determine which
name is the one they are looking for, because there could be different people with the same
name. Also, names could be spelt differently depending on the source. There were different
techniques to solve these problems, one was consulting city directories or another tool to help
determine which person is the one they are looking for (Duff and Johnson, 85).
The next task a genealogist participates in is finding the place name. This is an essential
part of research because if a searcher does not have an actual name or an information system
does not have a name index, the searcher needs to focus their search around the location where
these records would have been recorded. “Many types of records are organized and accessed by
geographic location, therefore geographic searches are the second most important thing, aside
from name searches” It is important to genealogical research to know where the subject lived.
“Most records with genealogical data, such as church records, deeds, land records, or census
records, emanate from a particular locality and archives usually provide geographic access to
these records” (Duff Johnson, 85). To be able to access all of these resources the genealogists
needs to know the place where this information would have been recorded. To help the
genealogists get a better grasp on the place in which they are researching they use maps or
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gazetteers. This helps them gain a better knowledge on what they place looked like during
different periods of history (Duff and Johnson, 86).
After finding names and places the next type of important information they need to find
are the dates or a general time period when an event took place in order to limit the amount of
records they will have to look at. There is no search engine for this but many people in the study
commented that it would be helpful for them so they could narrow their searches down (Duff and
Johnson, 87). Genealogists have a lot of information to sort through and look at so when there is
a way to narrow the search, it can only help them arrive at the information they need faster.
Each genealogist becomes records expert; they learn why types of records hold which
types of information. They have knowledge of how the records are organized and how to access
them with efficiency. “Thinking like a genealogists means figuring out how to access archival
material. Genealogists have to figure out what type of documentary form would contain the kind
of information they seek… Genealogists reframe their searches for information about people to
requests for certain types of documentary forms or events” (Duff and Johnson, 87). A
genealogists research is mostly confined to looking for information in the same types of
documents, this helps the develop search strategies that they can use repeatedly for their different
projects (Duff and Johnson, 88). Both amateurs and professionals become experts in this way
and many of them become very good at searching and working in archives.
When it came to asking an archivist for help, participants of Duff and Johnson’s study
said they asked for help when it came to facts about collections, or how to use them. They did
not ask for help finding useful records. There were a few different reasons for this; one reason
would be that some of the genealogists were very familiar with the collections and did not need
to ask for help. The other reason would be that some genealogists only needed to consult with an
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archivist to gain access to a collection or records (Duff and Johnson, pg. 89). They did not ask
for help, the asked for “permission”. It is encouraging to see that genealogists did ask for general
help about collections. However, they did not ask for help about what was in the records and
what would be more useful. The genealogists feel that they have a good knowledge about the
archive but the archivist may very well have more or different knowledge and could be
extremely helpful. This may be because of the rocky relationship between genealogists and
archivist.
When working in archives genealogists and family historians come across many
constraints and difficulties. As we learned, genealogists search for information about their family
by name, but that is not how archives are setup. Archives are setup with provenance-based
searching aids. One participant explained that not all of the information they need is found in one
area of the archive, this causes the genealogists to look at records based on place. These records
may include court records, or land records. This means that a beginner genealogist have to learn
to search information about record forms and creators. Also, the systems used require a lot of
innate knowledge; the genealogist must know which records contain the information they want
and how to retrieve it. Without this knowledge about how an archive functions, it is difficult to
navigate and get the information that is desired. This causes a lot frustration for genealogist
(Duff and Johnson, 91). To deal with some of these frustrations many genealogists use parallel
systems. These systems include finding aids organized into a genealogist’s viewpoint.
Genealogists also use their colleagues and courses to help navigate an archive (Duff and
Johnson, 92).
In addition to having difficulties navigating the systems of an archive there are also time
constraints. This affects professional and leisure genealogists differently. Professional
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genealogists work on an hourly basis and they need to move in and out of records and collections
quickly. To help with this they primarily use records that facilitate access to names and then they
moved to other records. Genealogists who do not do their research for money did not have as
many issues with spending too much time searching. These genealogists had issues with the
archives hours of operation, because they work other their other jobs and only have time to
search on the weekends or at night. Many archives limit access to collections, records, archivists
and finding aides during these times. Because of this many of the genealogists who need help
will not get it because of their odd hours of operations (Duff and Johnson, pg. 93).
After the genealogists have created their search strategies they must determine where
they are going to search for their information. Genealogists search for their information in
different places including, archives, the Internet and libraries. Genealogists are a very
importation user group in archives and the article “Archivists and Family Historians: Local
Authority Record Repositories and The Family History User Group” by, Rosemary Boyns
discusses the presence of genealogists in archives. The study surveyed local record repositories
in England and Wales. In 1996 there were 617,338 visits made by genealogists to the 106
repositories that answered the questions (Boyns, 62). The average percent of users that identify
as family historians is 57% (Boyns, 63). In addition to these statistics, Susan Tucker who wrote
“Doors Opening Wide: Library Archival Services to Family History” has the same findings. Her
study states that “genealogical research often make up the largest user group. Most studies show
that family historians make up from fifty to ninety percent of all North American and British
users”(Tucker, 130). Based on what we know about the records that genealogists use and where
these records are held, it is easy to figure out why genealogists would make up such a large
population in archives.
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In addition to an archive a genealogist may also use a library. For a genealogist a library
may be a little less intimidating then an archive, especially for a beginner. A public library may
be easier for a family historian to visits. In “Providing Genealogy Research Services in Public
Libraries: Guidelines and Ethics”, Robert I. Davidson explains how a public library can be useful
and an example of what a public library has done to be more useful. “Public libraries can offer
family history researchers the print and electronic resources, professional guidance, and training
necessary to make their genealogical journeys a success.” Many libraries hold city directories,
telephone directories, local business directories, academic yearbooks, and organizational
membership lists, as well as national newspapers, family birth records, funeral notices and
obituaries. The Palm Beach County Library System has added three services. The
“AncestryPlus” database was added as well as an interactive website called “Genealogy
Research @ your Library”. The last service added was an e-mail question/response feature
(Davidson, 42-143). It is encouraging to know that local public libraries are making efforts to
serve genealogists. It is a good way for public libraries to reach out to their community and really
offer things that people want.
In addition to traditional resources, the popularity of the Internet has helped family
historians and genealogists research. In “A Doctoral Study of the Use of the Internet for
Genealogy” Kylie H. Veale discusses how the Internet shapes the study of genealogy.
“Genealogy is the hobby where 54 million people belong to a family where someone used the
Internet to research their family history” (Veale, 8). The Pew Internet and American Life Project
found that the use of the Internet for hobbies has grown exponentially, and 24 percent of
respondents went online to research family history or genealogy” (Yakel and Torres, 94). It is
argued that genealogists have been using the Internet since 1983 by using net.roots. By 1988
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there was a proposal to create a database to search by name, also at this time the online library of
genealogy files was created (Veale, pg. 9). The different activities that genealogists use the
internet for are, research in online resources or databases, seeking information in chat rooms or
listservs, finding contact for libraries or archives and planning a trip (Yakel, Seeking
Information, 6). There are a few negative results from online genealogy. One is that there is a
risk of identity fraud and a lack of privacy for users. The second is that for new genealogists,
using the Internet is a quick entry and this leads to them not being socialized in the values, skills,
and methods in genealogy (Veale, 10). The Internet is important because it brings information
and a hobby to people that may not have had the means otherwise. We will also see other ways
that the Internet is important in genealogy.
Once genealogists have used archives, libraries, and the Internet to get all of their
information it is time to organize and put together what they found. Genealogists work with their
information in different ways. “Information management is a core activity of genealogical work.
Family historians and genealogists manage information from a variety of sources. Specialized
genealogical software applications, notebooks, and loose-leaf binders, and narratives were some
of the organizational devices and strategies used to both manage research data and create
meaning. The use of different organizational methods signaled different conceptions of
genealogical and family history work. Three of these conceptualizations are the story, the
archives, and the pedigree chart” (Yakel, Seeking Information, 7). The pedigree chart or the
family tree is the most traditional way for genealogists to organize their information. These
charts create visuals for the family historians. They can see what they have done and what is left
of be researched (Yakel, Seeking Information, 8). There are also a number of different software
programs that help genealogist organize and pull up their information with a simple search. They
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are also able to scan documents and help build a family tree (Fulkerson, 4). Each practicing
genealogist organizes their information differently depending on their preferences.
Information sharing is a very important characteristic for genealogists or family
historians. This is a major value for those who do this kind of study and there are many ways in
which they share their information. Many of the research found for this paper has made mention
of this characteristic. Many genealogists share their information through participating in
organizations or groups. In the study done by Elizabeth Yakel (Seeking Information, Seeking
Connections, Seeking Meaning: Genealogists and Family Historians) she found that her
interviewees participated in groups, both formal and informal. She found that there were “two
core ethical precepts of genealogists and family historians: information sharing and giving back.
Information sharing both within families and with strangers was common among the
genealogists and family historians studies” (Yakel, Information Sharing, 7). Duff and Johnson
have found the same thing in their study. They found a strong network among the genealogists,
which was created by genealogical society meetings and other avenues. They found that the
more experienced genealogists of the groups were eager to help and share information (Duff and
Johnson, 90). Joining an organization is a good way to make connections and share information.
These organizations help create a community of information sharing whether it is local or global.
The major article on genealogists and information sharing is “Quid Pro Quo: Information
Sharing in Leisure Activities” by, Crystal Fulton. This study focused on information sharing of
amateur Irish genealogists and the social norms that go along with it. “The information world of
the amateur genealogists involves an intricate network of information which the participant must
navigate to follow an individual trail of ancestry. As a result, information seeking, acquisition,
sharing and evaluation are key features of genealogists (Fulton, 754). We see that the Internet
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has had another big impact on genealogy. The Internet has made it very easy to share
information. Many participants of this study said that they would post information on discussion
boards or mailing lists. This helped them find other genealogists that may be searching the same
things they were (Fulton, 761). The Internet also helped to created relationships and social ties
between people, which lead to information sharing. Without the internet many of these people
would not have be able to get into contact with people who were not in their immediate circle
(Fulton, 762). Not only is the Internet a way to gain information it is also a way to share it. Once
people find useful information it is important that they share it with other genealogists.
There are social norms that go along with the information sharing between genealogists.
There are practices that are expected from one another in the information sharing community.
“They valued the nature of the information shared, as well as the means of sharing that
information.” Documented research was highly valued and increased the confidence in the
practice of information sharing. The quality of information can lead to the information sharer
being a trusted source for any future research. In addition to the quality of shared information,
the actual practice of information sharing was expected. If one genealogist shared their
information they expected that person to reciprocate at some point in the future. It was also
expected that the person receiving the information would acknowledge and thank the giver for
their help (Fulton, 763). Sharing information is part of their culture, it helps facilitate learning
and it helps create a community amongst the participants.
Fulton also mentions a special group of people called “super information sharers”. These
sharers find information these people think it is their duty to share what they have found.
“Information champions functioned as gatekeepers, taking leadership roles in responding to the
queries of other genealogists and in initiating sharing among genealogists” (Fulton, 764). There
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many different motivations for these sharers, they have a strong interest in genealogy, it offers
them fulfillment, and they like the idea of being able to give back to a community that may have
helped them. These super sharers see research as exciting and fun so they are ready to find
information and help a beginner beyond the initial question (Fulton, 765-766). The super sharers
really uphold the values of the genealogical community and create an environment where
learning and sharing is appreciated.
Another article has also addressed the idea of information sharing and genealogists. In
“Genealogists as a ‘Community of Records’”, Elizabeth Yakel and Deborah A. Torres discuss
how genealogists’ work with records and information create a community. The focus on
genealogical societies and how they help their members succeed in their searching. They state
“Communities of records are rooted not just in physical localities but in social groupings and
networks that share culture or experiences, that is, social memory.” Interaction between
genealogists over records and the creation of their family histories help create the community of
records. (Yakel and Torres, 97). Genealogists assist others in locating and searching in records,
as well as passing down general knowledge about records (Yakel and Torres, 98). During the
meetings there was an answer and question session where they would trouble shoot different
problems the genealogists were having (Yakel and Torres, 101). At the society’s meetings there
was a celebration period where people would share their findings or breakthroughs and there was
acknowledgement and praise (Yakel and Torres, 100). No only is the genealogical community
used for information sharing but it is also used as a support system.
Once genealogists have their information there may be some problems that go along with
mapping out a family tree. The information they discover may not be expected, sometimes the
information does not go along with what they thought of their family history. In “ Genealogists
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as a Community of Records” Yakel finds that many people find a deep connection to the stories
they try to tell though research but many were aware that the stories may not be entirely truthful
(Yakel and Torres, 108). Through research many of the genealogists in this study were able to
find truths that they could believe with records to support it (Yakel and Torres, 109). On the
other hand, there were some genealogists who had trouble letting go of their family legends
although there were records that proved otherwise (Yakel and Torres, 110). This also causes a
problem for the people who are helping the genealogists do their research. It causes an ethical
issue. It is important that the librarians give the best information to their patrons but they also
need to know it could cause a disruption in what they thought their family history was
(Davidson,143). Genealogists may find the information presented to them as hard to swallow
because it does not follow a family legend they grew up believing.
Also, the information genealogists may find could uncover different sides to their family
history. How they deal with this information is important in their experience of searching for
their ancestry. In “Who Are We? Genealogist Negotiating Ethno-Racial Identities” by Karla B.
Hackstaff, she discusses her study with three genealogists who also have multiracial
backgrounds. All three of the women in the study negotiated their multiracial family history
differently. The first woman (Kate), is an adoptee and chooses to focus on her African American
side because that is what she connects with socially, she does acknowledge her white side but
only biologically (Hackstaff, 186). The next woman in this study (Heather) embraces all of her
sides but finds that many other people do not. She has been kicked out of one genealogical
society and has not told the online Scottish society she was African American because she is
afraid of the same results (Hackstaff, 187). She is unable to interact and participate in some
genealogical communities because of her racial makeup. This means she cannot bounce ideas off
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of people or get some useful information. This makes her experience different and harder
because she does want to know all sides of her ancestry but she is blocked forums that. The last
woman (Clarissa) decides to only follow the elite history of her family. She has many lawyers
and judges in her family tree that she has traced back to colonial times. She did not feel the need
to research any father back into history and over to Europe for her family history (Hackstaff,
189). She is proud of this side of her lineage and focuses on that side. This affects her experience
because she neglects her other side because of her fondness the elite side. She may miss
important information on her other side because she is so focused on finding the most
information on her “American side”.
Lastly, there has been a huge increase in the use of genetic testing in genealogy.
Scientists are able to find out peoples ancestry based on DNA. This affects the way people see
their family history. It also gives them another record or piece of information to refer to when
building their family history. In “‘They Want to Know Where They Came Form’: Population
Genetics, Identity, and Family Genealogy” by, Richard Tutton discusses genetic testing and its
impact on genealogy. Many of the people who participate in genetic testing wish to prove what
they have already learned through their own research. Others may want to find proof in a less
documented form of their family history (Tutton, 110). The knowledge of what our genes carry
could create a problem. With the knowledge, “imagined genetic communities” may be created
which will cause older practices of exclusion and inequality to emerge (Tutton, 116). While
genetic testing could prove research, it could also cause people to find elitism with in their
ancestry. The use of genetic information needs to be used wisely within genealogy.
There are two theories in that I believe fit with the human information behavior of
genealogists. One is the sense-making theory by Brenda Dervin. She believes that “Sense-
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making looks at the human being, on the other hand, as moving through his or her life—going on
quests, meeting barriers, facing dilemmas and running into confusions, dreaming dreams, asking
question, dealing with muddles, passing time, resting and regenerating, and/ or seeking
happiness” (Dervin and Clark, 121). The quests that genealogists go on are quests for
information about their family history. During this quest we learned that many genealogists meet
barriers, dilemmas and confusions when researching in archives. Some of these constraints are,
not having a search engine that searches by name, or not being able to get to the archive during a
time in which they can get help. Sense making sees making the trip to the library as a voluntary
journey off the usual life path. Sense making also says that gaps in information prevent people
from moving ahead in life (Dervin and Clark, 123 & 126). Many genealogists go to the archive
or a library looking to search their family history, which would them help them create the
identity, which many genealogists stated what why they started searching their ancestry in the
first place. Many genealogists experience gaps in their life and they cannot feel fulfilled until the
questions are answered. This was seen in grown children of holocaust survivors, they did not
have any information about their parents and their life before the war, and they felt like they
needed to get to information to better create their own identity.
The other theory in which there was a connection is the social constructionist view.
Kimmo Tuominen and Reljo Salvolainen discuss this, they believe that “we construct versions of
reality between ourselves and that knowledge is something people do together rather then
separately” (Tuominen and Salvolainen, 83). This is exemplified in the information sharing and
the community it creates within the study of genealogy. The genealogists have their own set of
values within the communities and associations. These are socially constructed and the
participants are expected to follow. Information sharing is an important characteristic and when
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one shares information it is expected in return. They share information and search methods, as
well as congratulate each other when a break through is made. They function within the values of
their group when they search and share their information.
As a library professional is it important to be aware of what is being done to help a
certain group in libraries. It is also important to be able to create ideas to help in the future. We
have learned that within searching for their family history, genealogists encounter some
problems with searching in archives. This is especially important for archives because
genealogists are one of the largest user groups but the group studied the least. In “Where is the
list with all the names”, we find that genealogists have difficulties searching in the interfaces that
the archives already have. They need to have a search engine that can help them search by name
because that is how they do their research. It would be good to have at least one database within
an archives system that would search by name. It would be helpful to move all information that
would be helpful to genealogists into one general area. This may mean making or acquiring
copies of records, but it would be worth it. Also, through the research it was mentioned that there
have been issues between archivists and genealogists. This has gotten better but it is important to
facilitate a positive relationship on both ends. To help build this relationship archives could
invite genealogists to classes or information sharing sessions. Using the archives to bring people
together would make people more comfortable and knowledgeable about how it works.
Genealogists are good for archives and vise versa. The Internet has helped create new ways to
search records and share information, making the researchers in libraries and archives aware of
what is available to them and how to use it would be helpful. Libraries and archives getting
involved with the information sharing can help build a stronger relationship.
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As a person who is fond of history as well as something who wishes to be come an
armature genealogist is was interesting to look into what goes on within their information
seeking. They are considered everyday information seekers but genealogists must search
complex systems and records that were not built for them. They have done well in facilitating
communities to make the information seeking easier. Sharing information and supporting their
fellow genealogists has created a social group with values and unspoken rules that go along with
it. Genealogists search for their family history by choice but what they uncover is extremely
important to them. They store this information carefully in notebooks and on family trees with
the hopes of passing it down to the next generation.
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