Genealogy Charting - divorces?

Question

I am wondering how/if there are rules about recording divorces on genealogy charts? For example, an aunt was upset to see her ex-husband on the family tree even though they were married for 20 yrs and had 3 children together. Additionally, I noticed that my divorce was not recorded (it lasted 3yrs, 3mths and no children). Should mine have been on the chart? Is it proper to take her ex off?

Answer 1

I put it in - however, not for recent divorces.  If they are alive I subletly ask; different questions for different people.  If they are dead - I put it in.

I think someone has to be dead at least 20 years before you can put in on the LDS site where they are collecting at no charge to contributors all of the family trees of the world and storing in a bunker that will stand atomic blasts.

Answer 2

In my oppinon if they had no kids it should not be in the important part of the tree, put it as a note on the side or somthing that they were married but no children.

Answer 3

People like visuals, and often try to put the entire family on a chart.  My personal approach is that I only use standard forms.. ie the pedigree chart that shows a person's direct line (parents/grandparents, so forth).  A family group sheet is more text based, but is husband/wife and children (with links to the parents of the husband/wife).  And, computers will print descendant charts that are outline format... John and Mary Jones and ALL their descendants (including names of any spouses).  

The "real" thing is to keep track of all factual information, without any judgement.  Aunt has 3 children by the marriage, and dad's name BELONGS in the records. It shows the ancestry of the kids. Your marriage did not have kids, but it still is a fact, that in many situations will lead to finding other records. Example.. someone has to know that at one time, your last name was Smith, even if later on, you changed it.

Not to mention.. the standard goal of research is ANCESTORS.  Normally, those being dead, will not be griping about which husband was/ was not included. When you chart live persons, I GUARANTEE... someone will be irritated at how it is done. Thus.. I stay away from it.

Since many people won't listen.. the only sane thing is being truthful.

Answer 4

I chart all living people, and my software can handle everyone regardless of adoption, parentage, divorce, domestic partner ship, etc. And these charts all stay on my computer.

The family gets only the charts with the long-dead older skeletons in the closet. Living people are "privatized." If you are not showing up, don't be offended. Tell your genealogical guru that you would not mind your information being released.

It's just easier that way.

If you are not showing up, don't be offended. Tell your genealogical guru that you would not mind your information being released.

Answer 5

There really aren't any "rules" for a family tree chart.  It's up to the person compiling it to decide what info to include, based on the purpose of the chart, and who's going to see it.  If the chart will be shared with other serious genealogists, and the goal is to be as thorough and accurate as possible, then all marriages should be included.  On the other hand, if the chart is being made for a family reunion, or to be shared with relatives who might have only a passing interest in the tree, then it would make sense to leave things off that might upset or offend someone.  

In those cases, deciding what to include and what to leave off can be tough!  While your aunt may have been irritated to see her ex-husband listed, her children may have been upset to see their father left off.  Whoever made the tree may have felt it was more important for the kids to see both their parents listed.  With your marriage, however, they may have assumed that you'd prefer it wasn't included, and since there were no children involved, they decided to leave it off.

I faced a similar dilemma recently.  My husband and his brothers have no middle names recorded on their birth certificates.  As far as they're concerned, their legal names are just their first and last.  But their mother insists that they all have middle names, even though they weren't recorded.  It's actually a big family arguement!  So when my mother-in-law asked me to put together a chart for a reunion, I spent hours trying to decide whether to use the middle names or not!  Whatever I did, someone would be mad!  I finally decided to include them, since it was their mother who requested the tree in the first place.  (And I sure didn't want my mother-in-law angry with me! haha!).