Shaking the Family Tree Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist

Asahistorian,BuzzyJacksonthoughtsheknewtheanswerstothesesimplequestions—thatis,untilshetookalookatherscrawnyfamilytree.WithanamelikeJackson(thetwentiethmostcommonAmericansurname),sheknewshemusthavemorerelativesandmorefamilyhistoryoutthere,somewhere.HerfirstvisittotheBoulderGenealogySocietybroughthermorequestionsthananswers...butitalsogaveheratantalizingpeekintothefascinating(andenormous)communityoffamily-treehuggersandafter-hoursAlexHaleys.InShakingtheFamilyTree,Jacksondivesheadfirstintoherfamilygenepool:flyingcross-countrytolocateanancientfamilygraveyard,embarkingonaweeklonggenealogyCaribbeancruise,andevensubmittingherDNAfortestingtotrytofindherJacksons.Andintheprocessofresearchingherownfamilylore(WhowasBullwhipJackson?)shemeetslegionsofothergenealogybuffswhoareasinterestingastheyaredriven—fromtheboywhosavedhisallowancesohecouldorderhisgreat-grandfather’sdeathcertificatetothewomanwhospendsherfreetimedocumentingthecemeteriesofColoradoghosttowns.ThroughJackson’sresearchsheconnectswithdistantrelatives,tracesherrootsbackmorethan250yearsandintheprocesscomestodiscover—genetically,historically,andemotionally—thetruemeaningof“family”forherself.