Family Business Consultation: The Journey of Unveiling Generational Narratives

"Commencement" is a term used to describe the ceremony where students receive their academic degrees or diplomas, marking the beginning of their transition from students to graduates. However, my journey into the history and lives of the Hoge and Howe families began with my son's graduation from Virginia Tech.

Our son, Peyton, is a fourth-generation graduate of Virginia Tech. He could have been the fifth generation, but my husband and I went to Georgia Tech instead. But that is a story for another day.

As we started planning his celebration day, I was curious about everyone else's graduation dates. Our son was graduating in 2015, and it was easy enough to find his grandfather’s graduation date, which was in 1955. The date was etched on his class ring, which he passed along to Peyton shortly before he died. They both received degrees in Industrial Engineering.

I thought the most accessible place to find someone’s graduation year was the college registrar. I first asked about Robert H. Hoge, his great-grandfather. We know a lot about his history because he wrote an autobiography, which I found in my files as I embarked on the research. But since his graduation year wasn’t listed anywhere, the registrar was the place to start.

Within an hour of my request, the registrar found the information. The year was 1927, and he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. We know from his story that he then started at GE in Texas. His pay decreased when he got promoted in 1929 and moved to Schenectady, NY. It was the Great Depression, after all, so having a job was seen as a luxury most people didn’t have. To make up for the lost wages, he began creating sculptures. Part hobby, part extra income. His story was coming together nicely.

However, the graduation date of his great-great-grandfather, Beverly Lacy Hoge, was difficult. Although the registrar reassured me that they had everyone’s date of those who graduated, I received a call saying there was a fire and some records were destroyed, so he couldn’t verify which year.

Now, I was unsure if he graduated or not. However, I discovered that the Special Collections at Virginia Tech might have some history about it in their archives. Luckily, an archivist was able to help me out. On Tech's 50th anniversary, Rev. Beverly Lacy Hoge was one of the speakers. He was known for his excellent public speaking skills and graduated from Tech before attending law school and becoming a Baptist minister. His graduation year, 1884, was noted on the anniversary program.

My introduction to Virginia Tech’s Special collection brought me into the research world. They have an entire collection of the Hoge and Tyler family. Gov. James Hoge Tyler served on the board of visitors and as rector of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Virginia Tech). John Hampton Hoge was in the first graduating class at Virginia Tech. Touching on these tidbits of material inspired me to do further research.

Birth, death, and marriage dates are essential to a person’s story. But so much more interesting is piecing together the puzzle of a person’s life. When they graduate from college (if they went at all), their primary occupation, military service, hobbies, and religious affiliation paint the picture of the individual's story and the family’s rich history.

I saw a pattern as I dived into the details of these people's lives. Many of Hoge’s became engineers, but most were notable orators. In their genes, the Hoge’s were successful in many endeavors, in business, religion, law, politics, and, of course, engineering, which gives hope to the rising generation to aim high since they have good family genetics.

It surprised me to learn that the women in the Hoge family were educated even in the 1800s. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college, as my parents didn't have the opportunity. What's more, not only did the Hoge wives receive degrees, but they were also successful in their occupations.

Unfortunately, where and when the women went to school weren’t recorded. If I could piece together their stories, what patterns would I find? Teachers, writers, nurses? I heard many had vocations before kids or after their husbands passed on. What an inspiration these stories would be.

As our family historian, I feel obligated to have a summary of the individual's past: parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. As a family business consultant, I encourage families to do the same. Why stop at birth and death dates? Find out their details to piece together their stories.

"If we are unaware of our past, we cannot plan for our future."

Knowing where and when our family members graduated prompted our philanthropic plans now and in the future. We support Virginia Tech more than we contribute to our alma mater, and some of our funds go specifically to Special Collections. By making our Family Office aware of our history, they understood the “why” of our giving plans.

However, some families contribute to Veteran organizations because their families come from a long line of military service. Others might fund museums, theaters, libraries, and arts education programs based on an ancestral connection. If a grandmother or grandfather suffered from cancer, some may decide to contribute to medical research, hospitals, clinics, and initiatives to improve public health. A church or missionary might be the receiver of philanthropic plans based on an ancestor. But if you lack the knowledge of history, your family cannot make those plans for the family legacy.

Preserving information about our ancestors is crucial for the rising generation to understand their roots and plan for their future. Starting this process today is vital before it's too late and valuable information gets lost in time. Begin with essential details and build a whole story from there. It's not enough to learn about our ancestors' birth and death; we need to know more about their lives and experiences. Fill in their dash.

To help you collect the information, download this free Family Tree and Bio Form.