Tracing your family's map starting with older generations is a beautiful way to help children understand their origins and learn the story of their great grandparents, or other family members, who they haven't had a chance to meet. For adults it represents an opportunity to remember the people who are no longer there, creating a representation of their family. Read on to learn how to build a family tree.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Researching the History of the Family
Step 1. Go beyond genealogy
Some know their family history very well, while others don't know much about their grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins and so on. Before building a family tree, try to get some useful information by doing some research:
- Ask your family for news. If you are building a family tree for a school project, your parents will be able to tell you everything you need to know about your family. If the project is larger, however, you should try some genealogy databases. Some sites like Familysearch.org have a lot of information about relatives you didn't even know you had.
- Be specific. A family tree is not useful if someone is forgotten. You have to have the information checked by cross-referencing the versions of various sources.
Step 2. Decide how many generations you want to retrace
It is very interesting to try to go back in time as much as possible, but when it comes to designing a family tree it is not very simple or practical to write down all the information concerning many generations. You are limited by the sheet of paper you use, since you have to fit all the names of family members within a single page.
- Many people decide to get to their great-great-grandparents and their siblings, or their great-grandparents and siblings. These are people that you, your parents and grandparents have met and are closer to than your more distant relatives.
- If you are part of a large family with lots of great aunts and uncles, cousins and so on, you have to stop at a fairly recent generation if you want to fit everyone in your family tree. If you have a smaller family, you can even retrace three or more past generations.
Part 2 of 3: Sketching the Graph
Step 1. Choose your paper and drawing tools
Since it took you a long time to gather the information and to piece together your family history, purchase some good materials to make the play as enjoyable as possible.
- Art supply stores have large single sheets. Choose one that is resistant and with a nice grain, such as those used for watercolors.
- A cheaper alternative are cardboard sheets. This type of paper is sold in single sheets and several colors are available. You can find them in stationery and art shops.
- First draw a sketch of your family tree in pencil and then go over it with a marker or ink pen.
Step 2. Decide which shape you prefer
Some family trees are designed in the shape of a real tree with one branch for each "branch" of the family. Others, on the other hand, are more schematic and are real diagrams that do not provide a realistic drawing of a tree. Use the style that requires the school assignment or simply choose the one you like best.
Part 3 of 3: Drawing the Tree
Step 1. Draw the tree with a pencil
Imagine what it will be like, how much space you will need to write each name and to trace the connections. The pencil allows you to start over if you make a mistake and if you find yourself with little space.
Step 2. Write your name
Since it's your family tree, it all starts with you. Write it in a fairly central spot on the paper, so that you have plenty of room in all directions.
- The place where you put your name represents the beginning of the tree. If you write it at the bottom of the page, the branches will extend upwards. You can also decide to place it at the top of the sheet with the branches descending downwards, or on one side with the rest of the tree developing in the other direction.
- If you have decided to use the shape of a real tree, draw a sketch of it with a pencil and put your name wherever you like.
Step 3. Add your parents and siblings
Make Mom and Dad's names directly above or below yours, depending on the direction you have chosen to give your tree. Write your siblings' names on the same level as yours, so they relate to those of your parents.
- If you or your siblings have wives or children, add their names as well. The name of the wives should be written next to that of the partner and those of the children below the names of the parents. You can draw lines connecting children to parents if you want.
- Draw a tree tailored to your family. If you have a single parent or more than two, enter all the necessary names. You can be very creative, and if you like, you can include your stepfather (or stepmother) and stepbrothers and everyone in your family. The only really important thing about a family tree is not to exclude anyone.
- To have a well-organized tree, use a specific and recurring pattern to place siblings. For example, you can decide that the oldest is always the first on the left and that the next ones are in order by age to the right or vice versa. However, keep this criterion for the whole tree.
Step 4. Write the names of the aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents
This is the point where the tree begins to divide into branches. On your father's side write the names of his brothers and their wives, then those of their children (your cousins). At a higher level put the names of your paternal grandparents with lines connecting them to each child. Do the same thing on your mother's side including all maternal family members.
Step 5. Add more generations
If you keep adding the names of your great-uncles, their wives and children and then those of your great-grandparents and great-great-great-grandparents, you will end up with a very large family tree.
Step 6. Enhance it with more details
Trace the lines in black or with colored ink to make the names stand out. You can add decorations and other little personal touches to make the diagram more interesting. Here are some examples:
- Use different shapes for men and women. For example, you can enclose women's names in oval shapes and men's names in rectangles. In this way, anyone looking at your tree can, at first glance, spot gender differences.
- Use dotted lines to indicate a divorce. In this way you highlight the biological connections between children and parents even if they are no longer married.
- Add the dates of birth and (when applicable) of death. This simple detail conveys a lot of information and makes your tree more interesting.
- Enter biographical notes for each family member, such as birthplace, maiden name, middle name, and so on.
