About
This
Web site is the work of Herb (Herbert Lynn) VanHook. I've researched my family tree on and off
since the early 1970's, and this site is my attempt to share some of my
research with others.
It reflects a lot of work that has come before me and work that has been done
by others.
I'm not certain what possesses someone to do genealogical research. I think it
appeals to the same people that enjoy working 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzles (with
many of the pieces missing). Interest in my family history stems from my
father, and stretches back to the 1960's when he bought a copy of Bernice Keister's "The Van Hook and Allied Families"
(which I still have today). Over the years I've accumulated about 20 notebooks
filled with scribbling, family group sheets, computer print outs, copies of
copies, correspondence, transcriptions, sketches, etc. This site is yet another
attempt at organizing my notes into some sort of coherence. Others with whom
I've corresponded over the years know my affinity for primary (or at least
secondary) sources for research. While conjecture, hypothetical thinking and
supposition is useful - the theories have to
eventually be "proved."
I remain fascinated by the sheer randomness (or serendipity) that caused each
of us "to be." When I think of the number of people that had to come
together and create families down through the centuries, that the outcome would
be me (or anyone specifically) - I'm astounded that I'm here. Even for
non-biological families (both of my children are adopted from
People often joke about their family tree being convoluted. I have the unique
situation (perhaps not so unique) of "being my own cousin" (multiple
times over). My maternal grandparents were second cousins to each other, my
paternal grandparents were half-third cousins to each other, and my parents are
fourth cousins to each other. Maybe not really that surprising, given the
concentration of my family lines in a singular location (
Computers and the Internet have transformed the way genealogical information is
collected, processed and presented. The "hypertext" structure of the
World Wide Web is perfect for the sort of messiness that exists in genealogies.
Information technology has been my vocation (and avocation) for over 30 years
(here's where I work – BMC Software), and I'm
still amazed at how the pace of innovation seems to increase every year in this
industry.
This
site has been enabled through the work of Darrin Lythgoe and his amazing
application. Darrin is the creator of TNG – The
Next Generation of Genealogy Site Building. His work has made it possible
for me to concentrate on the “content” of this site and forget about all the
ugliness of structure, formatting, management and messiness that goes into
building and running a Web site. My
continuing thanks to Darrin.
I'm
married to a wonderful woman (and the best cook in the world), with 2 beautiful
children, and live in Northern Virginia (
Regards and Thanks,
Herb
(updated February 14th, 2006)