Genealogists

Genealogy, the study of the histories of families, has a long history of its own. The Bible records thousands of years of ancestry of the Hebrew people. In primitive tribes, young boys were taught to memorize and recite their lineage, so they would be sure not to forget it. Today, genealogy is both a skilled profession and a hobby with many useful applications. Often the line of family descent must be known before a person can inherit title to land and property or be eligible for certain college scholarships. Membership in certain societies, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, and the Hereditary Order of the Descendants of Colonial Governors, depends on a proper and verifiable family history. Most people, however, trace their genealogies for the sake of curiosity and enjoyment. In fact, genealogy has become one of the most popular hobbies in the United States.