I think this is the best question. I think everyone can have their own personal reason on why they would want to research their own family history. That is what is so great about it. I related in another post that you need to come up with a purpose. This purpose or objective will drive you to accomplish much. My reason for doing family history research almost differs with every different line that I have in my extended family. On the Bifano side, I am putting clues together from bits and pieces that my family has helped me with, to solve the mystery of why my great-grandmother does not have a father on record anywhere. So I guess you could say my purpose is to find out more about that side of my family. Like, what is her/his story? Who was her father? Was he Italian or Albanian or some other nationality? In any line I have, I love to put on the detective hat and do research to solve these real-life mysteries.