However, the most popular genealogy form is a pedigree chart. As with our pure-bred horses, cats and dogs, a pedigree lists the bloodline on both the father and mother's side of the family. More detailed pedigree charts provide birth, marriage and death dates and places.
Pedigree charts are useful for showing each direct line grandparent.
However, when doing research at a public library or archive, I also bring along a complete index of every name in my computer database. Invariably, I'll run across information written by the sibling of a person on my pedigree chart. In the commentary, the parents are perhaps mentioned by name. I would discount such a diary entry if I didn't realize that the writer was a brother or sister of someone on my pedigree chart. She briefly mentioned her parents and their efforts to gain enough money to cross the plains to settle in southern Utah.