Andy Likins

A family historian based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Andy Likins has been researching his family tree for over 25 years. He has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in teaching English to speakers of other languages, and he teaches academic composition and reading at Pikes Peak Community College. Andy lectures on introductory genealogy as well as Norwegian and Swedish research, and his memberships include the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Swedish Colonial Society. His on-going quest is to encourage his wife and three children to love cemeteries as much as he does.

Articles by this author

• Locating Images Of Ancestors: Putting A Face With That Name
• Tracing Your Norwegian Roots
• Digging Into Cemetery Research

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. -Desmond Tutu

I have a good deal of experience in Norwegian and Swedish research as I'm one-quarter Scandinavian and my wife is one-half. I love social history and strive to understand the context in which my ancestors lived.

I can't remember not being interested in family history. My earliest "genealogical memory" was drawing my first pedigree chart for a class project in second grade. As a teenager I was interviewing relatives and in high school went to Norway as an exchange student to uncover my roots.

There have been many, but a couple years ago I discovered that a university library had a collection of more than 30 letters written among family members of one branch of my family between 1814 and 1866. They were fascinating! Folks who had mostly been names, dates, and places suddenly came alive for me.

The 5000 year old Iceman who was discovered in the Alps. I realize he left no paper trail, but wouldn't it be fascinating to know his story?