One of the truly beautiful aspects of technology is that we can start with a framework and build on it from all sides. In days BC (before computers), the family historian would have to have all the information they needed beforehand and they'd have to plan their discourse carefully. If something went awry, it was time for a complete rewrite. New information couldn't easily be inserted into the middle of the text and if the dissertation was a lengthy one, the author may not have been inclined to go back and retype the entire text to accommodate the changes. (Reason number 158,225 why you should always verify secondary source information.)

Nowadays, as new information is discovered, your sketch can be updated with insertions here and there. Word processors can easily add footnotes easily to document your sources as you go along, and changes can be made to portions without the need to rewrite or add postscripts.

It's a fun and exciting project and one that can be shared with the whole family. It can generate interest in the family story much more effectively than cornering relatives with a pedigree chart. There's much to talk about, so with no further ado, let's get to it.

First Steps
Your first step is obviously to determine the focus of the sketch. Is it to be an individual sketch or a portrait of an entire family, with portions devoted to individuals and a discussion of the family situation as a whole. Once this has been decided, it's time to round up every scrap of information you have on the family--records you've located, information on the area(s) in which they lived, the time period, historical events, photographs, correspondence, etc. Once you've rounded up everything, it's time to dig in.

Timelines
I find it's most helpful to arrange the information I've found chronologically. I use a simple word processor and type in each record I've found and any conclusions I've drawn from those records. The timeline includes sources so I don't have to beat my head against a wall later trying to figure out where I got the idea Aunt Tildy was born in Timbuktu.

The timeline can serve as a framework for your sketch giving you a place to start and suggestions as to where to go next as you work your way through it. It's like a writing exercise that many writers use when they have writers block, where they toss a bunch of random facts in a basket and then try to come up with a story. In our case, it's even easier because we have in our research files, related facts about a topic that we've already chosen. Our job is to weave these facts into the fabric of their lives. (Dang it, now I'm going to have that commercial going through my head all day!)

I could spend all day talking about timelines (and regular readers already know it's my favorite topic), but we have much more to cover so I'll just include a link to another column on the topic:

Step-By-Step: Creating A Timeline
(Ancestry Daily News, 24 October 2002)
http://www.ancestry.com/rd/prodredir.asp?sourceid=831&key=A652901

Analyzing Records
Once you've gathered up the records, it's incredible how much information you can retrieve from some records that will help in your biographical sketch. Many records, like census enumerations, include occupations. A little background research into your ancestor's occupation can reveal insights into the family's lifestyle. How many hours a day did they work and was it a day job or a night job? Were there dangers or health hazards associated with the profession? How many people in the household were employed? Was it a "white-collar" job or "blue-collar?" Were they professionals or laborers?

In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, my ancestor Thomas Howley's occupation is listed as "gas pipe fitter," but in addition, it also reveals that he was unemployed for three months during that census year. That had to have had a big economic impact on the family. There was no unemployment insurance and the entry for the family further reveals that two of his daughters, aged 15 and 17 were employed as coffee packers, presumably to help bolster the family's income. These bits of information give us an interesting snapshot of their lives at that point and it's just a small piece of the information that can be found in censuses. Be sure to look at all the columns and analyze what they tell you. Make note of your observations and include them in your story.

Historical Events
Historical elements can also add interest and can be easily found online. Which of the following sounds better? "The Dooner family came to America in 1847," or "The Dooner family came to America in 1847 at the height of the Irish Potato Famine."

What were the headlines in newspapers on the day they were born, married, or died?

As William Dennis and Catherine Huggins were getting married on 11 April 1865, the headlines of the New York Times told of "The Rejoicing," with the U.S. and "New York City Preparing to Welcome Peace" after the long and bloody Civil War. The "Times" article further reveals that, ""The rain fell heavily during the day. . ." and I can imagine William and Catherine running into St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn surrounded by family and friends. Catherine's sister Julia Huggins was a witness at the wedding as was, James Kean.

Only two sources were used in this paragraph. I located the New York Times article by simply searching the Historical Newspaper Collection for that date: 11 April 1865. We also have a copy of their marriage record and further research on the details found in each may well turn up much more background information to include. A quick search on Google for images even turned up a sketch of the church at: http://www.dioceselongisland.org/allparish/B28StPaulsCarrollSt.htm This image can be used to describe the appearance of the church.

The idea is to paint a picture in your mind, using the facts you have at hand and express that picture in words, using the documents and information you've dug up as supporting evidence. There's much more on this subject and next week we'll talk about other ways to enrich your biographical sketch.

Juliana Smith is the editor of the Ancestry Daily News and author of The Ancestry Family Historian's Address Book. She has written for Ancestry Magazine and Genealogical Computing. Juliana can be reached by e-mail at: mailto:ADNeditor@ancestry.com, but regrets that she is unable to assist with personal research.

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