Description
Book Synopsis: The quest for roots has been an enduring American preoccupation. Over the centuries, generations have sketched coats of arms, embroidered family trees, established local genealogical societies, and carefully filled in the blanks in their bibles, all in pursuit of self-knowledge and status through kinship ties. This long and varied history of Americans’ search for identity illuminates the story of America itself, according to François Weil, as fixations with social standing, racial purity, and national belonging gave way in the twentieth century to an embrace of diverse ethnicity and heritage.
Seeking out one’s ancestors was a genteel pursuit in the colonial era, when an aristocratic pedigree secured a place in the British Atlantic empire. Genealogy developed into a middle-class diversion in the young republic. But over the next century, knowledge of one’s family background came to represent a quasi-scientific defense of elite “Anglo-Saxons” in a nation transformed by immigration and the emancipation of slaves. By the mid-twentieth century, when a new enthusiasm for cultural diversity took hold, the practice of tracing one’s family tree had become thoroughly democratized and commercialized.
Today, Ancestry.com attracts over two million members with census records and ship manifests, while popular television shows depict celebrities exploring archives and submitting to DNA testing to learn the stories of their forebears. Further advances in genetics promise new insights as Americans continue their restless pursuit of past and place in an ever-changing world.
Details
Discover the fascinating history of your own family with Family Trees: A History of Genealogy in America. Uncover the roots of your identity as you explore the enduring American preoccupation with ancestry. From sketching coats of arms to embarking on DNA testing journeys, generations have sought self-knowledge and status through kinship ties. Let François Weil guide you through this captivating journey that not only tells the story of America itself but also sheds light on our evolving perspectives on social standing, racial diversity, and national belonging.
Experience the fascinating evolution of genealogy in America. In the colonial era, genealogy was a pursuit confined to the aristocratic elites securing their place in the British Atlantic empire. As the nation transformed through immigration and the emancipation of slaves, knowledge of one's family background became a defense of elite "Anglo-Saxons," representing a quasi-scientific validation of social status. However, in the twentieth century, the embrace of diverse ethnicity and heritage brought about a democratization and commercialization of tracing one's family tree.
Nowadays, genealogy has never been more accessible. With over two million members, Ancestry.com allows you to unravel your family's story through census records and ship manifests. Imagine the thrill of seeing your family's name in historical documents and discovering distant relatives who have shaped your past. Join the celebrities who have been captivated by their own heritage, utilizing archives and DNA testing on popular television shows. These exciting advancements in genetics offer new insights, enabling Americans to explore their past and place in this ever-changing world.
Embark on your journey of self-discovery and uncover the rich tapestry of your family's past. Click here to get your copy of Family Trees: A History of Genealogy in America. Let François Weil be your guide through centuries of genealogical pursuits and reignite your passion for unraveling the stories that shaped you.
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