My Colorful Ancestry: 10-Year Anniversary

 

On March 23, 2016, something unexpected happened.

What began as a simple idea at my desk—just a different way of looking at a pedigree chart—turned into something far bigger than I could have imagined. A colorful spreadsheet. A handful of states. A spark of curiosity. And within hours, it was everywhere.

 

The Idea That Started It All

I remember exactly how it began.

I wanted to see my family tree differently—not through names, dates, or locations at the county level—but through birthplaces at a glance. Just states (and countries), nothing more. Clean. Simple. Visual.

Then came the twist: color.

Each state became its own visual identity. Suddenly, patterns appeared. Migration stories jumped off the page. It wasn’t just data anymore—it was a story told in color.

And just like that… voilà.

 

When It Went Viral

I shared my chart on Facebook, thinking a few genealogy friends might enjoy it.

Within hours, it took on a life of its own.

People didn’t just view it—they recreated it. They downloaded the spreadsheet, customized it, shared it, and tagged me. Then their friends did the same. And their friends after that.

By the next morning, it was everywhere:

• Facebook feeds filled with colorful charts
• Twitter buzzing with genealogy conversations
• Instagram posts showcasing family histories
• Blogs highlighting new variations and ideas

It spread across the entire genealogy community—what I like to call the GeneaSphere.

 

The Power of a Simple Idea

Looking back, I think the magic came from a few key things:

• Simplicity – Anyone could do it
• Visual impact – Instantly understandable
• Shareability – Easy to post, easy to recreate
• Creativity – Others expanded the idea in amazing ways

People added more generations. Some incorporated flags. Others adapted the concept entirely—proving that genealogy isn’t just about research, it’s about expression and connection.

 

The Hashtag That Brought Us Together

A special moment in all of this was the introduction of the hashtag #MyColorfulAncestry, thanks to Crista Cowan, aka The Barefoot Genealogist.

That hashtag unified the movement. It gave us a way to find each other, to share, to comment, and to celebrate our diverse backgrounds together.

For a brief moment, we weren’t just individual researchers—we were part of a global conversation.

 

What It Meant Then—and Now

At the time, I called it “an irregularity in the social GeneaSphere.” And in many ways, it was.

But ten years later, I see it differently.

It wasn’t just about a chart.

It was about:

• Sparking conversations between strangers
• Encouraging people to explore their roots
• Making genealogy approachable and fun
• Building community through shared discovery

I gained new friends, new connections, and a deeper appreciation for how powerful even the smallest idea can be.

 

Ten Years Later

Now, a decade later, I still see echoes of that moment.

Visual storytelling in genealogy has only grown—charts, infographics, DNA visuals, and more. And I like to think that, in some small way, #MyColorfulAncestry helped inspire that evolution.

What started as a simple spreadsheet became something meaningful.

And honestly… that still amazes me.

 

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

So here we are—ten years later.

If you created a chart back then, I’d love to see it again.
If you’re new to it, why not give it a try?

Pull out your pedigree. Add some color. See what patterns emerge.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a little color to bring your ancestry to life.

Link to the original post: https://bit.ly/4uN6nZY

My original post has over 42,000 views as of today.