Check out this fascinating read authored by Andrew Koch in Family Tree Magazine: Genealogy vs. Family History | Definitions and Examples of Each. [This blog post is not sponsored.]
Genealogy - History of your direct-line ancestors
Family History - History of your direct-line ancestors and all that surrounds them (social context)
In my humble opinion, you can't have one without the other. Well, you can but what fun is that? The genealogy of a family needs to be as complete as possible (ensuring you have the correct ancestors/ancestral lineage) to begin to build the family history in which they lived. For genealogy, use of the Genealogy Proof Standard* (GPS) guides a professional genealogist to a solid conclusion with a set of five standards. Once you have a genealogy in place, then you can learn even more about that family by putting them into their social context (therein lies family history).
This is an example I use in my duties of a co-director at my local historical society and museum. The museum is full of priceless and unique artifacts, photographs, and documents...which mean absolutely nothing if you don't know the story about them and that story comes from the people. The people who made something, the people who used something, the people in the photograph, the people named in documents. The family history of such artifacts is the basis for historic preservation.
The desk pictured below has a wonderful story about its builder and how the desk came to be. The desk on its own is interesting, but, with the family history supporting it, it comes alive! [If you'd like to learn more about this desk, as well as see it in person, please come visit!]
So, I open up this discussion to my readers...what say you? Do you feel genealogy and family history share the same definition or are inherently different or forever tangled together, such as bonds that tie?
*GPS criteria:
Conduct reasonably exhaustive research.
Provide complete and accurate source citations for each statement of fact.
Interpret the evidence with analysis and correlation.
Address and resolve any contradictory evidence.
Write a soundly reasoned and coherent conclusion.
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