In the past few years I have been devoting a good bit of time to my family history, as I am so fascinated by it. To be fair, I'm the daughter of a history buff and a librarian, so researching my family tree is in my genes. These photos are of my paternal great-grandmother Hattie, circa 1880. They were taken in Boston where most of my father's family lived, however I have traced this particular line all the way back to French royalty! I am now focusing on obtaining more information on my mom's side, which is from the Alsace Lorraine region of France…they have been tougher, although I am five generations back so far. For me, understanding my roots has helped me develop a stronger sense of self, and has explained a lot in my life (hello francophilia)! I'm curious…what is your heritage, and do you feel that knowing your family history helps you identify more with yourself?
I love that you’re able to do this! How exciting. It’s funny, because my family is 100% Irish on both sides, there isn’t the same paper-trail as there is when people move around, emigrate etc.
Still, I would love to dig around a little and understand more about my family… not so much where they’re from, but how they coped / what roles they might have played in Irish history, like the famine etc.
Woah! That’s an awesome picture you found!! You’re a full-bred Francophile if I ever met one :) Now I just need to show you all the great spots in Paris so you can inform your family!
Thank you so much Jane! It has been difficult to find the paper trail on my Mom’s side, but ancestry.com is amazing. That sounds like an advertisement, but it’s crazy what you can find on there. I would love more information on my Irish roots–my maternal great great? grandfather was born there we believe…The Monahans! :)
Merci Lindsey, yes, I have french roots on both sides, but I am a “mix” as so many Americans are. My “relative”, Henry III, commissioned the Pont Neuf, I believe…?! ;)
Like most french people, I am from mixed origins. My mother’s side is all Armenian in Eastern Europe (if you are not sure, it is a small country East of Turkey, formerly part of the USSR)and my dad’s side is all french (or rather Provencal, having found out that they always lived in the same county for over 200 years, unfortunately it is hard to go beyond the French Revolution in the family tree due to missing archives). The Easter part of my family deals with overcoming suffering (genocide in 1915) and starting a new life. It’s the driving force in me. The French side is more stable and somewhat a bit procrastinating as that side of my family has had a quiet history (but it is an issue at all?).
Anyway, I think it is a good balance. I think I would define myself as a French southerner nowadays if that makes any sense.
How amazing is this Susan? Love that you have this photograph. I recently started ancestry.com and have gotten very far. One of my relatives discovered Santiago, Chile, there is a statue of him in the town, the town shares my mother’s maiden name (which is very unusual). I am so interested in this:) Good luck on discovering more treasures!
How cool Miss B, and I’m happy to hear you love this too! :)
Makes perfect sense Bernard, and thanks for stopping by!
I think people in Europe don’t think so much about their heritage as those in America do mostly because they’re usually from the country they live in (or maybe that’s my family, ha!), but I don’t really know much about my heritage other than I’m Polish, but I don’t know for how far back… Either way, we’re ALL connected in the long run! : )
So true Eva…and that’s an interesting perspective!