Ancestors: Family Records- Family and Personal Histories Content Extra

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Typical Chronological and Life Topic Content for Family and Personal Histories

These are two of the most common styles used for family and personal histories, although most accounts actually blend both. Many writers use the chronological approach, covering the life topics for each stage of a person's life. However, others prefer to make the topics the chapters and discuss that aspect of the person's life from the time of their birth to their death.

Chronological	Life Topic
1. Roots, or the person's family heritage up to his/her birth	A. Economics, income, work, career
2. Birth, including family setting into which the person was born	B. Living arrangements
3. Pre-school childhood	C. Family developments (birth of sibling, death of grandparent, etc.)
4. Childhood, perhaps through grade school	D. Extended-family developments
5. Adolescent years	E. Health
6. Coming of age as a young adult	F. Education
7. Young parenting years	G. Hobbies, interests, talents
8. Later parenting years	H. Church/religion
9. Empty-nest years and retirement	I. Annual holidays and vacations
10. Death and legacy	J. Friendships
	K. Current events

The information contained on this page comes from a variety of sources, but relies heavily on The Everything Family Tree Book by William G. Hartley (Adams Media, 1998) and Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide to Family History & Genealogy by Jim & Terry Willard with Jane Wilson (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997).

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