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Knowing who you are and where you came from has multiple health benefits.
In a 2010 study, researchers at Emory University found that "family stories provide a sense of identity through time, and help children understand who they are in the world." Additionally, teens who knew more about their extended family showed "higher levels of emotional well-being, and also higher levels of identity achievement."
And that's why Storied, a new family history site with a companion app, wants to change the way you think about family history. Rather than simply collecting facts, figures and dates, they want to focus on the stories and lives behind each of those records to truly pique your interest in those who came before you.
They believe that the power of stories and storytelling, collaboration and going beyond the family tree with non-traditional relationships is crucial to making this happen. Here's how they're taking family history to the next chapter and setting themselves apart from others in the industry.
'Stories are what really matter'
Since the dawn of humanity, storytelling has been a key part of forming connections among people. And Storied CEO Kendall Hulet believes that personal narratives deserve more emphasis in family history work.
"Records are awesome and a lot of family history sites are really good at hosting records and making them searchable," Hulet said in an interview with the Deseret News. "Right now, when discussions about family history happen, people's eyes glaze over a little because it's not stories they're hearing, just a list of facts and dates.
"But stories are what really matter. Telling stories around campfires has been happening throughout our history and it's how humans are hardwired to communicate."
Branching out beyond the traditional family tree
Genealogical work doesn't usually focus on non-relatives — but that's one way Storied is different. By including tools to document stories from both family members and non-family members alike, users have a more complete picture of the lives that came before.
"Documenting family history has been so isolated, focused on family trees and familial relationships," Hulet said. "But think about all the people who have major impacts on our lives. Friends, teachers, classmates, mentors … all these and other people are a huge part of your story."
Incorporating these accounts into the bigger picture is an important step in taking traditional family history work to the next level, Hulet explains.
"The industry must evolve to provide a richer and more complete lens into the past," he said. "That vision can only become a reality with a new set of tools. With Storied, we want users to still have the ability to build a family tree, but to go beyond it as well."
He adds that Storied allows you to account for the family you're born with and the family you choose.
"Everyone defines family differently, so we want to account for connections to a best friend, beloved pet, professional colleague, trusted mentor or chosen family. Storied's unique approach unlocks a fuller view of our past," Hulet said.
A deeper understanding of the past
Hulet believes expanding the family tree beyond blood relatives is key to unlocking the full stories of those who came before us. Perhaps you might uncover details about your grandpa from his friend's journal. Or maybe you'll learn about an influential school teacher or co-worker who had an immense impact on your family member's life. For Hulet, it was other peoples' accounts that helped him understand his ancestors' experiences better.
"I have an ancestor who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and another who sailed across the Atlantic without her parents as a young child," Hulet said in a press statement. "Traditional records help me learn their names and things like the unit they served in or where they were at certain moments in time, but they aren't able to provide the rich detail of what those experiences were like.
"Other people in their military unit or fellow passengers may have shared firsthand accounts that would help me understand what my ancestors experienced. Storied is the first family history platform designed specifically to bring those accounts to the fore by creating connections between people based on shared experiences."
Hulet hopes this will "enable a new era of personal and family history discovery" and adds, "We're just getting started."
Discover your story today — for free
Because Storied is passionate about making this new software accessible to anyone, their plans and pricing options are very competitive compared to current industry rates. You can register for a free account today and begin building a family tree, sharing stories and receiving clues about people in your tree.
If you want to take things one step further, you can sign up for the Storied Plus monthly subscription. This includes everything at the free level — plus access to groups, U.S. historical records and newspapers — and it only costs $4.99 per month. Other search platforms typically charge over $20 per month.
Everyone has a story to tell and Storied wants to help you find yours. To learn more about this innovative and highly affordable family history service, visit storied.com.
