In response to increasing nativist sentiments in the US, we are teaching a first-year seminar this fall where students will explore their family’s history, with the goal of helping them discover their immigrant origins. Inspired by the PBS program “Finding Your Roots”, students will gain an understanding of what’s involved in genealogical research and how that can tie into events in American and world history. But rather than rely on professional genealogists, the students themselves will learn archival research techniques, using online sources for census data, periodicals, passenger lists, etc. They will compile this information into a free database program, to allow charting of their family tree and mapping of their travels, and optionally share it with others through online networks. They will also research contemporaneous events to provide historical context for their family’s story. A discussion of genetics and optional DNA analysis will round out the course content.
