Australia's Family Historians: Who They Are, What They Do and Their Motivations

Abstract

Family history has been characterised as one of the fastest growing leisure time activities for Australians, yet there has been little research into who the individuals are that participate in family history, why they became involved and how they go about their interest. An Internet survey of family historians in Australia was conducted to enquire about their demographic characteristics, how they came to be involved in the pastime, the individuals and events that may have been influential in their initial involvement, and why they continue their involvement. The survey also sought information on the way that family historians undertake their research - the facilities they use and why they make those choices. Family historians have also been characterised as willing to share their findings and the survey enquired after this practice and the ways that they intend to see that their research survives for future generations. The survey demonstrated that family history is dominated by females, who are most likely to be aged less than 60 years of age, likely to be the first in their family to begin family history research and principally interested in Anglo-Celtic ancestry. Curiosity about family, events and stories was the main motivating factor to begin research and family historians are adapting to the changes in technology in their research practices. The Anglo-Celtic centricity of Australian family history is changing as the diversity of the general population increases and the way that family history is practiced is moving rapidly from being facility dependent, enabling more to participate in research without needing to leave their home.