For many, our life story is not just about us, but also about our ancestors and family history.

We may know snippets about this extended life through our parents or through old family documents we have inherited. If our ancestor is famous, they may be documented in public history and commercial books and there is no need to go further.

But what about the ordinary ancestor who lived an everyday, participative life? How do we learn more about them?

Fortunately, modern technology, history and culture have evolved to assist us in this endeavour.

These days you don’t have to physically visit an archives centre, museum, library, or registry to research them. Many historical records are available online, or their specific location in an archive depository is listed for easy retrieval if you go there. The records are numerous and relate to areas such as: births and deaths, ancestry, census, war service, immigration, shipping manifests, refugee lists, grave sites, phone books, voter rolls, church records and newspaper notices.

Additionally, new lines of history are being written to fill in missing spaces. Creative historians are restoring bygone local histories using unique methods, new studies on neglected histories are emerging, and the digitisation of old photos and other ephemera help to give clues about a disappeared past.

It takes time and experience to research and interpret family history from all these sources, but it is very rewarding and enlightening to understand your place and space in time through your extended lineage and history.

And that’s where I come in. I can research your unknown family history, ancestors and family tree from top to bottom using this wide range of vital and historical records, histories, ephemera and archival sources.

If you are interested in this service, email me at perthwriter@hotmail.com