Genealogy: Research on Family History & Folklore

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue is both an explanation as well as an exploration; the former, an application of folklore/folkways to genealogical or, more specifically, family history, research and, the latter, a discovery of ways to research the folklore (music, stories, poetry, etc.) and to apply it to one’s research in the field of family history/genealogy. This can be achieved through gaining knowledge of one’s culture(s), especially if we define “culture” in a broad sense: “a learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, and norms, which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.”[i] To understand the folklore of a community (or family), it helps to understand the culture.

But let’s backup a bit. When we use terms “genealogy” and “family history,” we are talking about two different, though connected, entities. Genealogy, of course, relates to the names, dates, and places of our ancestors, primarily birth, marriage, and death; but it is also the study of one’s lineage (context determines definition). Family history, on the other hand, includes genealogy but goes farther: this is the who, what, when, where, why, and how of our ancestors’ lives;[ii] in recent scholarship, it has been defined as one’s medical history[iii] (again, context determines definition). It is family history that makes the names, dates, and places make sense and, in many cases, expands on those elements by use of stories, social history, and the events that surround the person/family in question. Added to that are the effects of culture, family values and norms, environments, etc. (the folkways) plus the social history (what is happening at the time, both in the vicinity of the family and in the world in general, as applicable) that make the ancestors more than names and numbers on a page; some use the phrase “adding flesh to the bones of the forebears.”

In this issue you will find stories of families (case studies, applying the element of folklore to the discoveries), research suggestions, and caveats about making assumptions based on the elements of genealogy and folklore research. It is in hopes that the readers will discover new ways to incorporate folklore into their written and oral family histories and, possibly, gain additional clues to furthering their research. Above all, there is an expectation that appreciation for ancestral lives, including sacrifices and hard times as well as triumphs and positive experiences. A secondary benefit of the articles here is for the readers to discover that their ancestry consists of a number of different cultures, each with unique folkways, that contribute to their existence. “Who we are is a compilation of many factors; some of these can be traced to ancestral traditions, behavior, historical events, etc. Examining these can lead to insights about our progenitors as well as ourselves.”[iv] It is hoped that the readers will consider this bigger picture, allowing folklore to be a welcome component in their genealogical projects.

 “We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 400-600 words summarizing their intended contribution before 28th February. Please send it to the guest editors ([email protected]) or to /Genealogy/ editorial office ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the special issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer-review.”

[i] Myron W. Lustig & Jolene Koester, Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication across Cultures, 3^rd Ed. New York: Longman, 1999, p. 30.

[ii] “Genealogy Terms Explained,” Roots to Branches website, 31 August 2019, accessed on 30 December 2020 by Jean W. Hibben, from https://roottobranches.com/genealogy-terms-explained/#Genealogy_vs_Ancestry.

[iii] William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, “Definition of Family History,” RxList website, accessed on 30 December 2020 by Jean W. Hibben, from https://www.rxlist.com/family_history/definition.htm.

[iv] Jean W. Hibben, “Folklore,” course outline, National Institute for Genealogical Studies, December 2011.

Authors submitting to this special issue, the journal would not charge the APCs.

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genealogy is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Genealogy
• Folklore
• Culture
• Folkways
• Family History