A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History

One might consider genealogy a solitary obsession into looking for predecessors. But as Morgan (history, Northeastern Illinois Univ.; Women and Patriotism in Jim Crow America) points out, genealogy and its use can be quite political in nature. In this latest work, Morgan explores how genealogy in the Unites States has evolved over time, especially with its increased popularity in the 21st century. Her general thesis is that genealogy gives people self-worth and agency. She explains that this form of agency first developed as colonists sought to reclaim lineages to descendants of the Mayflower and American Revolution; others looked for links to royal lineage. These genealogical pursuits often were pursued by women, whom Morgan links to other cultures who value oral traditions. From there grew organizations that adhered to exclusionary racial and religious norms (e.g., Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy). The existence of these white supremacist groups does not mean that genealogy practices did not occur within other groups; Morgan astutely dives into how Judaica, African American, Indigenous, and Mormon groups molded genealogy. Concluding chapters look at how TV series like Roots and corporate DNA services have transformed genealogy in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.