Tracing Family Roots
What is the hardest ethnic group to research? Native Americans and African Americans
What is the easiest ethnic group to research? Hispanics with Spanish records back a thousand years.Genealogy, the study of one's family history is one of the most popular hobbies in America today. However, it is not a new interest. From Mayan steps to Egyptian tombs, from the Bible's Genesis to the European kings, records have been kept in one form or another throughout the world. Records for purposes of land and property rights were needed to insure the passing of one's wealth to one's posterity. But in many cultures, pride of bloodline itself was sufficient reason to keep the records straight, whether on paper or passed on orally.
Most Americans of ethnic background question the probable success of compiling a family tree. Some groups are harder to research than others. Unfortunately the hardest ethnicity's to research are Native Americans and African Americans, with written records going back 150 years; then Greek and Irish back 200 years; English, 300 years; Scots, Scandinavian, French and Italian are all 400 years; Germanic and Slavic, 500 years and Swiss 600 years. The surprise is that Spanish records surpass all of the aforementioned. Spanish records are the most complete with records dating back a thousand years.
Source: The Family Tree Aug/Sept 1994
The Hispanic Genealogical Society of New York <http://www.hispanicgenealogy.com/>
Murray Hill Station - P.O. Box 818
New York, New York, 10156-0602
The Hispanic Genealogical Society Of New York is a non-profit, public service and educational organization, headquartered in New York City, where our volunteer staff organizes meetings, plan projects, provide instructional forums and host seminars. The society is still working towards establishing a library and research center in the borough of Manhattan, where their extensive collection of reference publications and research materials will be housed. Members of our volunteer staff will be available to field questions and assist beginners in their quest to search thier family's history.
The members of HGSNY are truly diversified. We have Historians, Students, Writers, Hobbyists, Homemakers, Retirees, Doctors and other professionals who are researching Latin America, Mexico, South America, Spain and other Spanish heritage countries. All Hispanos joined together in a common endeaver. All of us bound by our desire to find our Spanish family roots, assist others in finding theirs and by the longing to spread the knowledge of our Hispanic culture and heritage all over the world.
HGSNY is working together with several Hispanic genealogical and cultural organizations to further network and offer our members every opportunity to recapture thier culture and help find thier own unique historical past.
Puerto Rican/Hispanic Genealogical Society <http://www.rootsweb.com/~prhgs/>
P.O. Box 260118
Bellerose, NY 11426-0118
Telephone: (516) 834-2511
Founded in 1996, the PRHGS was established to enable Puerto Ricans, Hispanics and other interested persons develop and enhance their skills , knowledge and ability to conduct a competent genealogical search for their ancestors. In this regard, it sponsors conferences, seminars, training sessions and originates print and electronic publications, that are specifically designed to inform, train and otherwise educate people about genealogical investigation principals, methods and techniques.
PRHGS welcomes all people to join its growing roster of members through out the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Europe. Join us in experiencing the thrill of finding long-lost ancestors; the satisfaction of resolving family mysteries, and in the personal pleasure of learning more about the history, culture and language that we share in common.
Hispanic Genealogical Links <http://www.hispanicgenealogy.com/>