It Runs in the Family

In the quest to uncover our family history, we turn to written records, the family album and even heirlooms. However, they can often be difficult to interpret and sometimes pose more questions than they answer:Why didn’t my ancestors smile for the camera?Why did great-grandfather wear a beard while his sons were clean-shaven?Why is my great-grandmother holding flowers in this photograph?Drawing on evidence from social history, women’s history, and the histories of photography, art and fashion, and using examples from the lowly as well as the famous, Ruth Symes explores many aspects of ordinary life in the past – from the state of the nation’s teeth, to the legal and economic connotations of wearing a wedding ring and even the business of keeping a dog. This fascinating volume aims to help family historians get to know their elusive ancestors by deciphering the wealth of personal and historical clues contained in photographs, documents and artefacts.

Ruth A. Symes spent her career in academia and editing. Now a freelance writer and historian, she writes for various genealogical magazines, including "Discover My Past England," " Discover My Past Scotland," " Family Tree Magazine," and "Who Do You Think You Are?" She has previously published four books, including "From Corncrake to Combine," which she edited, " "and "Stories from Your Family Tree."