Learning more about family history

I have always been interested in history. My interest in Family History began when my mom had questions about her grandparents, who passed away before she was born. That is when my love of history became my love for family history. Mom had stories, wanted to know if they were true, and if I could learn more. Thus began the journey to answer the questions: who am I, how did I get where I am, who came before me, and who were they?

As I continued to learn more, I shared what I learned with my mom. We enjoyed spending time learning more about my ancestors. She told me stories about being raised during the depression and the resilience that it bred in her family: how they pulled together through tough times, and how neighbors helped neighbors.

I learned so much about my grandparents that I felt I knew them. I collected pictures I was able to get from relatives I connected with on FamilySearch. As I shared these findings, my relationship with my mom grew. She shared how my grandmother was born in 1903 on a farm in New Brunswick, Canada. The farm used horses for everything, from pulling the wagon they used to go to church in, to pulling the plow to prepare the ground to plant potatoes, to digging the potatoes in the fall. Changes came to their lives with the purchase of a tractor.

With online tools and reaching out to relatives, I learned my family originated in Normandy France and immigrated to Canada in the 1670’s. They started as seafarers, and became farmers for the most part. My grandfather was a potato farmer, his father my great-grandfather was a lumberjack.

October is National Family History Month. It has been since 2001, when the US Senate officially designated it to encourage Americans to research and celebrate their family history, recognizing its importance in understanding individual and national identity.

Whereas, it is the family, striving for a future opportunity, stability, and love;

Whereas the family remains an institution of promise, reliance, and encouragement;

Are you new to family history and wondering where to start? Start with you. What is your story?

The Library of Congress recommends many ways to search for your ancestors and to share with your children. One is the K W L method, which is especially useful with younger family members. K is for Know, ask them to write or draw something they know about their family. W stands for Wonder, what is something they have always wondered about their ancestors. L is for Learned, share something they learned about their family.

Eating what they ate is a great way to connect with ancestors. Make a favorite meal or beloved family dessert and share it with someone.

Start a free account at FamilySearch.org. FamilySearch is the world’s largest free collaborative family tree. Once you have connected a few generations back, you can use FamilySearch’s online tool to identify how you are related to famous people (familysearch.org/discovery/famousrelatives). I discovered that Queen Victoria is my 9th cousin 5 times removed, FDR is my 10th cousin 3 times removed, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is my 11th cousin.

FamilySearch also has information about the origin of surnames. I learned LaBreck is most likely the angelized form of LaBrecque, thought to be a habitational name from La Breque in Seine-Maritime, France. Derived from the Norman form of “breche” meaning a “breach” or “gap”.

Armistice Day is coming up: see if you are related to anyone who served in WWI by searching draft cards and other service records.

Create a digital family tree. If you already have a family tree, add at least one photo, story, or person to it.

Visit your local Family Search Center at 560 West Bogard Road, Palmer. There, you will be able to meet Family History Consultants who can help you with your journey to discover your past. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The hours it is open are Tuesdays 10:00 am-8:30 pm, Wednesdays 6:00-8:30 pm, Thursdays 2:00-8:30 pm.

Whatever you do, make it a family affair by involving your siblings, cousins, parents, and children. It’s an opportunity to connect with the past, strengthen family bonds, and appreciate the legacy of those who came before.

Once you have the basics, dig deeper. Search online for a list of questions to ask your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents about their memories. You could ask something like: “How has the world changed since you were young?” Or, “Is there one piece of wisdom you could pass on to your descendants, what would it be?”

Have you been bitten by the family history bug? If so, what do you do next? Simply, keep learning. Maybe attend RootsTech 2026. RootsTech will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, and online, from March 5-7, 2026. The conference consists of hundreds of classes about genealogy and how to do research.

If you do one thing this month to get to know your family history or celebrate your own story, you can say you’ve officially celebrated Family History Month!

Paula LaBreck has lived in the Valley for 24 years. She enjoys reading and genealogy, and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.