Many of us know where our parents were born. If you have lived in the same area for quite some time you may even be able to identify the childhood home of your great-grandparents, or possibly know of some ancestors that fought in the Civil War.
But how many of us can tell you what country our ancestors came from? How many of us know for certain that we are of Irish or German descent, or that at one point in history our family name was associated with royalty? Many people have colorful stories from our family history, but how many of us can relate those stories to the history of the world?
More and more people are trying to, with the rising popularity of genealogy. Genealogy (pronounced “genie-ology”) is the study of ancestry or family history. The tools used in genealogy are mostly documentations of births, deaths, land purchases, and any other resource that can “link” one generation to another or give a history of an area or establishment. It is a versatile discipline, as genealogy can be as involved as you would like it to be. Perhaps you are only interested in tracing your family history back a few generations to better understand the structure of your family tree, or you want to know how long your family has been living in America. While you can certainly have a rewarding experience with these projects, more dedicated genealogists (people who practice genealogy) want to trace their family line back as far as possible. Alex Haley, the author of Roots, wrote his famous novel based on the genealogical research he had done on his own family.
While people have always had a general curiosity about their ancestry, the popularity of genealogy has grown greatly in the past few years, chiefly because of the growing ease with which one can access genealogical research materials. What used to have to be done by pouring over mounds of legal documents and prowling through numerous cemeteries can now be done easily by perusing an online database. A great amount of time and attention is still needed, but a genealogist can now do a great amount of research at home for a small subscription fee.
As with any research endeavor, the Wayne County Public Library is prepared to assist the public with their genealogical pursuits. Rhonda Konig, a reference librarian at the main branch, is an experienced genealogist who can help patrons effectively use the numerous resources available both online and in our Local History Room. The library subscribes to two online databases, HeritageQuest and Ancestry Library Edition, which are available to patrons with a valid library card (Ancestry, however, can only be used on an in-house Internet computer at the main location and any of the branches). These sources offer a plethora of genealogical sources, such as census records, genealogical books; passenger lists for ships coming to America, and many more. Also accessible online is the Wayne County Historical and Genealogy Gateway. This resource links to historic photographs of Goldsboro, books, newspaper abstracts and more detailed information about our Local History Room.
“The most important thing to me about genealogy is that it helps us to appreciate the lives of our ancestors and the struggles they had to face in order for us to exist,” says Rhonda Konig. If you agree with her, and are interested in the history of you and your family, then visit the Wayne County Public Library and get started on a rewarding pursuit.
For more information about the genealogical resources available at the Wayne County Public Library or the study of genealogy please contact Rhonda Konig.
