9/11 & The Origin of Family History Month
(and the We Dig Genealogy 50% Off Family History Month Special, September 15, 2024 through October 31, 2024)
Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah, image retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/places/temple-square.htm
If you have an interest in family history and genealogy, then you’ve no doubt come across a reference to “Family History Month” at some time or another. October is when these references usually pop up, but I’ve seen other months mistakenly assigned under this moniker by some in the online genealogy niche.
How many of us have ever really looked into the origins of Family History Month though? Probably very few, and those who have, probably have never gotten the whole story.
It should come as no great surprise that the idea to designate a national Family History Month originated in Utah, which is also the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), a.k.a. the Mormon Church. It was Orrin Hatch, a Republican Senator from Utah, who first proposed to the U.S. Senate the establishment of a national Family History Month. That was in September of 2001, on September 12th to be exact. Just a week later, and without any adjustment to the original language, the Senate unanimously passed the resolution, assigning October as Family History Month for 2001. The resolution additionally requested for the President of the United States to issue a proclamation “calling upon the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” [1]
Hatch, a Mormon himself, was serving his constituency well when he proposed this bill. At the time, more than 50 percent of Utahns were Mormon, [2] and family history plays a central role in the Mormon faith. Not only do Mormons believe that they are intrinsically tied to their ancestors by more than just blood or genetics, they also believe they can help save the souls of ancestors that died before being baptized or completing other holy ordinances of the LDS faith. By identifying and solemnizing the names of their ancestors at Temple, Mormons give their deceased ancestors the chance of salvation, even after they have passed on. [3]
“Our ancestors came from different parts of the globe and by searching for our roots, we come closer together as a human family.”
— Orrin Hatch, October 14, 2001
Portrait of Orrin Hatch, retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/member/orrin-hatch/H000338
Given other events of 2001, including, but not limited to 9/11 and its aftermath, the anthrax attacks that followed, the start of The War on Terror/Global War on Terrorism, and the first discussions of the Homeland Security Act and Department, it should also come as no great surprise that President George W. Bush never formally proclaimed October as Family History Month, despite the Senate requesting it.
According to Congressional Records, in September of 2002, June of 2003, and October of 2005, Hatch introduced Senate proposals to assign October of each of those years as Family History Month. Resolutions passed the Senate without disagreement or revisions to language each time. There was no such proposal in 2004, and none in the years that followed.[4] In March of 2011, Democrat Gerald Connelly of Virginia “added to the October 2005 Record” by formally requesting the House of Representatives to recognize October as Family History Month. [5]
No family history month proposals have been presented in either house of Congress since, and no proclamation or official order from the President has ever been issued assigning October as a national month of observance or celebration of family history. What began as governmental recognition has gained its own momentum socially though, with libraries, museums, state governments, and other organizations (and individual blogging genealogists like me) continuing to promote October as Family History Month.
Were Hatch and his colleagues working on a family history month proposal prior to 9/11? Probably, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the proposal was introduced when it was. The September 12, 2001 proposal by Hatch was undoubtedly one among millions… billions… innumerable… emotionally-driven reactions to the events of September 11, 2001. For Hatch, as a Mormon, the proposal obviously carried some religious significance as well, given the profound loss of life on 9/11 and the Mormon belief in salvation even after death, with genealogy serving as a means to that end.
Hatch was a controversial figure. Like most politicians, people either loved or hated him, but no matter how one might feel about the man, his politics, or his faith, he is the reason October is Family History Month within the United States.
50% Off Family History Month Special, Now Through October 31, 2024
Although Every Month is Family History Month at We Dig Genealogy, in honor of the official Family History Month of October, I’m running a special discount on new projects. In this promotion, any new job arranged from September 15, 2024 through October 31, 2024 will be discounted by 50%. In other words, rather than paying $25.00 per hour of research, clients will receive one hour of research for just $12.50.
The Terms: The contract to complete the job must be signed and returned between September 15, 2024 and October 31, 2024. Work may not commence immediately, and the research agreed to in the contract may not be completed by October 31, 2024. However, provided the contract falls under this Family History Month promotion, the promotional rate will apply. All other standard terms set forth within the We Dig Genealogy Client Service Agreement apply. All Quick Genealogy Shop Services are excluded from this promotion.
Ready to book a job or discuss research project options? Please complete the Research Request form. It’s not a contract, so you’re not committing to anything right now. You’re just providing more information to make our communications run more smoothly.
References:
[1] “‘Mormon Land’: How Orrin Hatch transformed the political loyalties of Latter-day Saints” By David Noyce and Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake City Tribune, published May 11, 2022, retrieved Sept 14, 2024 from https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/05/11/mormon-land-how-orrin/
[2] “How many Utahns identify as Latter-day Saints? Fewer than you think.” By Tamarra Kemsley, The Salt Lake City Tribune, published Dec. 28, 2023, retrieved Sept 14, 2024 from https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/12/28/turns-out-latter-day-saints-are/
[3] “The Importance of Family History to Latter-day Saints” retrieved Sept 14, 2024 from https://ph.churchofjesuschrist.org/family-history-ancestry-search
[4] Congressional Records Search, conducted Sept 14 2024 via: https://www.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22congress%22%3A%22all%22%2C%22source%22%3A%22all%22%2C%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22family+history+month%5C%22%22%7D
[5] “RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS FAMILY HISTORY MONTH; Congressional Record Vol. 157, No. 38 (Extensions of Remarks - March 14, 2011)” retrieved Sept 14 2024 from https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-157/issue-38/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E470-3?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22family+history+month%5C%22%22%7D&s=3&r=1