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.
