Using Facebook to Research Family History

One of our researchers explains how Facebook can be used to find hidden gems in the form of videos, photos, and information for your family research. 

Your family history can be found in the most unlikely places. I’d like to share a few success stories I’ve found locating my family and also learning about the lives, times, and locations they come from. A great place to start is Facebook. It is the perfect place for the local historian who is looking to share their work or for those who are feeling nostalgic.   

Here are a few of my personal favorites to give you an idea of what you may find.  

Historical Videos and Photographs

My mother’s family came from the Pacific Northwest, and I called that area home for many years. The South Whidbey Historical Museum had a presence at the Island County Fair held in August that we went to several times as an extended family. Through the years, the museum has grown and taken on a larger online presence.  

Here is just a small sample of videos they made available on their page: 

Courtesy of the South Whidbey Historical Museum

One day I was digging a bit further and went to their website. Under Collections is a link to a new organization, washingtonruralheritage.org, headquartered at the Washington State Library, which has collected digital photos from around the state. 

Courtesy of washingtonruralheritage.org

With a little poking around, I found class photos from the 1930s of my great aunts and uncles.  I’d know these sweet little faces anywhere!

Courtesy of washingtonruralheritage.org

 Other sites I’ve found of interest on Facebook for Washington State include: 

• History of Puget Sound and Surrounds (est. Feb 2019 and has over 30,000 members), https://www.facebook.com/groups/kinyonskids/ 
• Vintage Everett  (4264 members), https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintageeverett/?ref=timeline. I made a connection to the daughter of a family friend who posted her father’s yearbook picture. In just brief moments, I learned that my bachelor great-uncle dated her aunt back in the late 1930s, and he was best man for her parents in the early 1940s. 
• Lowell WA Civic Association (487 members), https://www.facebook.com/Lowell150yrs/ 
• You know you’re from Kitsap County When…  (5989 members), https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitsapcounty/ 

Interesting Information

My father’s side of the family is primarily from the Southern United States. The family moved from Alabama to Illinois to Arkansas – a path that I see repeated with many of our clients’ families, as well.  

My absolute favorite site is the Arkansas and Missouri History page, which has amazing information. The page’s owner has written up histories and collected pictures for towns large, small, and very small. You are able to do a search in this group so that you can narrow down areas of interest to you, or when you have some time to spare, just start looking through all that is here. 

Arkansas & Missouri History  (8340 members), https://www.facebook.com/groups/234039950342068/ 

Courtesy of Arkansas & Missouri History 

 Others of personal interest that may spark ideas for you on what to look for, especially if you have family here too: 

• Saline County Illinois Genealogy  (746 members), https://www.facebook.com/groups/330349130440154/ 
• You know you grew up in Leachville if you remember  (1226 members), https://www.facebook.com/groups/148500038565759/ 

Photos from Around the World

Just to give you an international feel: 

One line of my family came from Sumianen, Finland. I have been there twice and visited both the church and the store that was there dating back to at least my great-great-grandparents, and both are still operational. 

Sumiaisten Aiitatori (671 members) has information about the store, https://www.facebook.com/aittatori/. 

Half of the building has been turned into a makeshift museum with a collection of items that would have been sold there back in the day. The other half is a fabulous handcrafted store. 

Courtesy of Brenda Johnson 

Information about the church:  https://www.facebook.com/SumiaistenKirkko/. 

 Courtesy of Brenda Johnson

As you search for your family story, search Facebook for the town, county, state, and country. Include the words museum, historical society, genealogical society, genealogy to find the best sources. Be sure to read the about section for each Facebook group, which may include the organization’s website, and check out their links to other pages. And, don't forget to search for pages and groups and to look under posts and photos for possible connections. You just might find your family member looking back at you!

There is a limit to what you can find on Facebook and other social media and often the information you find leads to more questions. Legacy Tree Genealogists has experienced researchers who can take your family history research to the next level. Contact us today for a free quote!

Sources:

https://washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/whidbey/search/searchterm/school*%20student*%20teacher*/field/all/mode/any/conn/and  

https://www.facebook.com/SouthWhidbeyHistory/?eid=ARCeSxP3RU-z33K-2QKbiw14Y-oCMlwPS5LPwlt8vj49sz3VXMaWWPMkcSai4fOG_OKJJ6ZCi-YD_L9N