indicators; We Are Family - family history research information - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

American Demographics, Sept, 2000 by Gerda Gallop-Goodman

Digging up one's past has become a popular hobby for those living in the present. According to a recent poll by Maritz Marketing Research and Genealogy.com, 60 percent of Americans said they were at least "somewhat interested" in tracing their family history, compared with 45 percent who said they were at least "somewhat involved" with genealogy in 1995.

Those curious about their kin are digging up the past for a number of reasons. Nearly 19 percent of respondents said they became interested after talking to a friend, colleague, or relative who had researched their family history, while 39 percent had their interest piqued from relatives' stories about their clan. The Internet has also made it easier for people to track down information - 29 percent have surfed the Net for family fodder.