How Did You Get Into History or Genealogy Poll

Here are the results of our 13th Unlock the Past poll - How did you get into history or genealogy? 116 people voted indicating a huge range of things which triggered their initial interest - "other" scored the most votes. Over half started after family discussions, continuing a relative's interest, from family records or other family initiated events.

Pathway                                     # votes         % voters

• Fair or expo                                     0                   0.00
• Enrolled in a course                           2                  1.72
• School project                                  5                  4.31
• Study at school / uni                         2                  1.72
• Who Do You Think You Are               2                  1.72
• Family records                                 18                15.52
• Research history milestone                 4                  3.45
• Family discussion                             28                 24.14
• Continued relative's interest             14                 12.07
• As an LDS member                           1                   0.86
• Read a genealogy magazine               1                   0.86
• Search for name online                     3                   2.59
• Haley's Roots book / TV series           2                   1.72
• Parade Magazine                              0                   0.00
• Other                                           34                  29.31

Other pathways mentioned:

• 40 years ago tried to fill in chart in my new daughters baby book and just kept going .....
• Foster child looking for parents
• Attended my grandmother's funeral
• I have always been interested, however became active in researching after going on an organised walk of my local cemetery, Bangalow NSW, where my great, great grandparents are buried
• Expo 88 in Brisbane
• Started during Bicentennial year 1988
• 1988 - Bi Centenary Year got me interested
• Saw a "tree" in a book in my teens and decided I wanted one
• I thought my family contained some unusual surnames and it would be fun to see where it went. Then I was introduced to a researcher who was excited and so dynamic that I was well and truly hooked!
• Family stories
• Family reunion
• Found old photos and information
• Trying to recontact family members connected to my father in law
• Was given some research done by someone I didn't even know existed (not on my direct line)
• Saw my great-uncle's name in a newspaper
• Newspaper article on family
• Met long lost relative and discovered more relations
• Hearing stories from my great-great aunt at my grandma's funeral and wondering if the fantastic tale was true
• My grandmother's refusal to speak of or allow her father to be spoken of
• My grandmothers journal and photo albums
• Read my Grandmother's half finished life story and wanted to find out more - then I was hooked
• Grandparents not speaking about their past because of WW2
• Researching my grandfathers boxing career
• Needed to know where our family came from
• Interested since teens
• Visited Family History Library in Salt Lake City
• Discussion with/information from friend
• I have been interested since I was a young child
• Joined local genealogy group
• Personal impulse
• Wished I had my friend's school project
• My dad gave me a copy of GSP and that's where I started
• I started looking for my father's family because he knew nothing about his own father; I found quite a bit of information for him before he passed away at the end of the first year after I began
• Researching in Land Titles Office

Where the voters came from

• Australia - 108
• United States - 5
• Ireland - 1
• New Zealand - 1
• Unknown - 1