Paper short abstract:

This paper investigates memory practices, uses of the past, and understandings of heritage and kinship among amateur genealogists. The point of departure is a fieldwork about family history research (hobby genealogy) in present-day Denmark – a society where digitalization is ubiquitous.

Paper long abstract:

In my paper, I explore the intergenerational relations, the co-presences, and the virtual as well as physical places generated by contemporary genealogy practices. I argue that history and cultural heritage products are at once consumed, cared for, and created in highly personal ways, through a broad array of networks and media. “The digital” is examined as a condition for experiencing ancestral belonging, preserving the past, leaving a legacy, and writing (one’s own) history.

Amateur genealogy is a popular hobby in modern-day Denmark. A large proportion of people engaging in these activities are senior citizens. Concurrently, technological developments continue to offer new possibilities for researching one’s ancestors, with big-data, machine learning, and DNA-sequencing as buzzwords. Thus, digital competencies play a crucial role in accessing and utilizing archival records as well as in one’s ability to participate in social communities centered around genealogy. For, as I will show, practices of genealogy are not limited to solitarily researching one’s familial background. They include both virtual and face-to-face interactions, e.g., partaking in crowd transcription projects, social media, general education, and fieldtrips. Furthermore, practices of genealogy intertwine personal memories, family stories, and “collective memory” across generations.

Weighty uncertainties are found in lacking knowledge due to ruptures in family relations and bereavements. Threats of loss concern identity forming memories and family stories as well as kinship narratives intended for future generations. Lastly, the many possibilities of, and insecurities about, digital spaces for heritage, kinship, and cultural belonging have to be navigated by present-day hobby genealogists.