Genealogy, Archives and Uses of the Past

Genealogy can be described as a way of linking the past to the present using genealogical and historical records to establish a lineage that connects present people with those who came before them. It’sa way of linking oneself and one’s family to history through archives and ancestry. In that way, genealogy can create a unique, personalized experience of historicity and a sense of historical identity. What is characteristic of genealogy is thus the use of history to create meaning in the present.Genealogy is a cultural practice that both uses and produces cultural heritage, ie historical knowledge inherited from past generations, which is maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. This definition places the phenomenon of genealogical research in the humanities, making it a legitimate object of study for scholars based in history and heritage studies, among other fields. According to public historian Jerome de Groot, genealogy as a form of historical knowledge is largely untheorized (de Groot 2015). This article is an attempt to draw attention to some of the many ways genealogy can be understood and discussed