Genogram
From My Research Wiki
A genogram is a drawing, diagram or schematic representation of a family's medical history. Sociologists also use genograms to track social influences in a patient's life (such as coach or teacher) but these charts can help family historians map inherited conditions or tendencies. The purpose of diagramming your medical history is to show what genetic traits may have been passed from one generation to the next... to show what conditions might affect you or your children. Many find a 1 or 2 page diagram easier to understand than your doctor's forms.
Contents |
Getting Started
You need to collect your genealogy and medical history notes about the person that you are planning to show, his or her spouse(s) and children (if any), parents, and grandparents. Medical history is strongly influenced by 3 to 4 generations so that is where you should concentrate.
You need the following information for each person to be included on the diagram when preparing a genealogy genogram:
- Name
- Sex -- male=square, female=circle, unknown=triangle
- Birth date or year
- Marriage date or year for each spouse, and date of divorce (if applicable)
- Date or year of death
- Cause of death -- accident, heart attack, etc; watch out for outdated terms
- Hereditary or potentially hereditary conditions
- Occupation -- dangerous work, such as coal miner, can contribute to disease, etc
- Military service -- can expose a person to unsanitary conditions; US Civil War veterans suffered a high degree of dysentery; US Viet Nam veterans have a higher rate of Hepititis C
Don't get stuck in the details or organizing them. Do that while you are creating the chart.
Draw the chart
There are standard images you should use to help yourself, your doctor or others read the diagram.
- Square -- male
- Add an "X" inside the square if he is dead
- Circle -- female
- Add an "X" inside the square if she is dead
- Triangle -- unknown sex
- Add an "X" inside the square if he or she is dead
- Horizontal line -- marriage
- Backward slash (one) indicates they are separated
- Forward slash (one) indicates couple has filed for divorce
- Two forward slashes indicates the couple is divorced
- Vertical line from the marriage line -- child
- Solid line indicates genetic or 'natural' relationship to the couple
- Dashed line indicates the child is adopted
- Dotted line indicates a foster child
- Children should be shown left to right from oldest to youngest
- If you don't know the order, guess
There are other shapes but this is enough for now.
Add info to chart=
While adding each person to the chart, add the following information:
- Name ("Albert Williams")
- Birth year ("1842")
- Death year ("1922")
- Age ("80 years")
- Cause of death ("C: paralysis/stroke")
- Other hereditary issues
Should I use software?
That's a personal choice. Until a few years ago genogram software was limited to sociologists and cost a fair amount. GenoPro is an affordable program to help you build these diagrams. It is also easy to learn and use.
What does this chart tell me?
The chart can help show hereditary or other medical issues or tendencies children might face. For example, if only 1 grandparent died of a heart attack it probably isn't something to worry too much about. If 3 of the 4 grandparents, however, died of heart disease it is something to consider. Even if the grandparents are alive the question remains: what medical conditions have they encountered?
