Will you join me on a family history treasure hunt?
A Family History Treasure Hunt is a treasure chest of questions about names, places and events. These question clues will help you discover your ancestors’ FOOTPRINTS, and that will change your FOOTSTEPS!
This year my GREAT DEPRESSION ancestors have taught me about waves, storms, starvation, and survival, circumstances out of their control. They showed me how to ride the railroads, and how the Mother Road, Route 66, labeled them in a degrading way as they sought better opportunities. They told me about their radios from the 1930 Federal Census, and the hope they felt in listening to President Franklin D. Roosevelts’ fireside chats. They reminded me that receiving the government’s charity was in contrast to a desire to be self reliant, but it helped to sustain and smooth the way for their families and our nation. Not all of my questions have been answered, but I will always treasure the connections I made with my great depression ancestors. This awareness of their lives, fears, suffering, and miracles makes me see and appreciate the present differently.
What can your great depression ancestors teach you? Would you like to know their names?
TREASURED NAMES
What are the names of your GREAT DEPRESSION ancestors?
This FamilySearch link will give you a timeline to each ancestor, their age, and the challenging times they experienced, including the Great Depression. It will also include a historical paragraph of each challenging time. Click on view my relationship and open the door to a treasured connection!
https://www.familysearch.org/en/campaign/challenging-times
TREASURED PLACES
Places are more than just a location. They are a part of our identity!
What places identify with your GREAT DEPRESSION ancestors lives?
I wanted to know if any of my ancestors had to endure the extreme conditions of the Dust Bowl. These 2 books helped me understand the places that were devastated by the drought and dust storms on the great plains during the 1930’s.
I asked the question, “Where any of my ancestors part of the migration to California during the great depression. The United States Census records helped me see my ancestors connection to a place in 1930 and in 1940. This link will help you directly access census records in the FamilySearch wiki.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wik
TREASURED MEMORIES
The events of the past were part of our ancestors present day. By studying historic events, we can deepen the connection to our ancestors
What memories do my ancestors have of the Great Depression?
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” These words were spoken with a slow, calm, and steady voice, the voice of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States, on his inauguration day in 1933. Did the voice of FDR reach my ancestors? What were their fears? How did they overcome them?One of the question on the 1930 census was, “Do you have a radio?” Radios were the new technology of the time. Did my ancestor have a radio?
CALISPHERE: The University of California offers a Digital Library of photographs and explanations of the Great Depression years. Enjoy this link!
http://calisphere.org/exhibitions/t6/great-depression/
HISTORY: Is a website where you type in your topic. It show 128 results for the great depression. This includes Shorts, which are short videos on specific events of the great depression. Enjoy this link!