December 12, 2022
Every generation has its own characteristics that define those born into it. The Silent Generation years are no exception.
Searching for your ancestors will reveal people who were products of their times. Understanding what defines each generation empowers you to grasp the times, the context, and how those ancestors have and will influence future generations.
So, what makes up the Silent Generation period, and why are they called the Silent Generation?
What Is the Silent Generation?
The Silent Generation has varying birth years based on who is evaluating it. The most commonly used range of birth years is 1928 until 1945.
Silent Generation members were born during the beginning of the Great Depression and the culmination of World War II.
Some people also refer to this generation as “Traditionalists” or “Radio Babies.” Note that although this term pertains to people born in the United States, people in other parts of the world have similar characteristics. This is why even people born abroad during this period have much in common with their American counterparts.
Unlike the Greatest Generation or Baby Boomers, Silent Gen covers a much shorter time frame. It’s a period characterized by a relatively low birth rate. Fewer people were starting families and raising children due to the political and economic conditions of the time.
The earliest members of this generation saw action in World War II, but the majority wouldn’t reach maturity until the Korean War era. Late bloomers would also serve in conflicts like the Vietnam War.
That is why genealogists find this generation such an intriguing one. Yet it’s often forgotten, with the Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers gaining most of the attention historically.
Why Is It Called the Silent Generation?
The Silent Generation may seem like an odd name to bestow upon millions of people, but the term actually comes from Time (magazine). In an article published in 1951, the unnamed essayist wrote:
“By comparison with the Flaming Youth of their fathers and mothers, today’s younger generation is a still, small flame… It does not issue manifestoes, make speeches or carry posters. It has been called the ‘Silent Generation.’ But what does the silence mean? What, if anything, does it hide?”
Children of this period were expected to be seen and not heard. This should come as no surprise if we look at the Silent Generation years. They were born into extremely difficult times, with the bulk of this generation coming of age during the 1950s era of McCarthyism and the associated Red Scare.
The radio also became widespread during the early 1930s wave of mass consumerism; hence the term “Radio Babies,” and their adherence to traditional values resulted in the term “Traditionalists.”
With the rapid changes impacting America at the time, members of this generation were known for working with the system instead of trying to upend it.
Despite this stereotype, many of the most famous speakers of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s actually came from this generation. This revolution for equality came around at the time many of the Silent Generation became adults, leading them to depart from the traditional values that define this generation.
Characteristics of the Silent Generation
So, what are the silent generation characteristics that make people born into this troubling time unique?
If you have any older relatives, you may find them speaking of their family from this generation as frugal, respectful, loyal, and determined. Here are some characteristics that make the Silent Generation years a unique time in American history.
Traditional Values
A devotion to civic duty defined these years. Patriotism ran at an all-time high during the Great Depression and World War II. It led members of this generation to embrace traditional values like hard work, loyalty, and thriftiness.
These qualities made them highly productive, with less turnover in the workplace and great pride in their work.
Financial Intelligence
You may remember a grandparent or great-grandparent who was extremely careful with their money. It comes from their background. These people grew up in a time of mass poverty and unemployment. Money was hard to come by.
This generation would repair a broken item rather than try to replace it. Frugality was at the top of the list.
Men and women alike were excellent homemakers because they were so careful with their resources, financial or otherwise.
Respect for Authority
The Silent Generation preferred to work with the system instead of trying to change it. They were brought up to respect others, particularly those in authority positions.
Working together as a team was always a priority. They developed relationships with both colleagues and customers. These people were always highly adept at creating cultures of respect and adherence to existing systems.
Determination
The Greatest Generation is often praised for suffering throughout World War I and World War II. They dealt with some of the greatest horrors in world history. Yet the Silent Generation period carries many of the same qualities.
Life was tough during their childhood, and many people who were born during the Silent Generation years have vivid memories of struggling for survival, much less struggling to prosper.
Silent Generation members typically possess high levels of persistence and determination to achieve their goals.
Resilience
High levels of determination also result in extremely high levels of resilience. Those born during the Silent Generation period were never afraid of change because they grew up in a time of massive change.
The peace that came to America following the conclusion of World War I and the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties were shattered by the Great Depression. Then, when the first roots of recovery appeared, America found itself embroiled in World War II.
The world changed fast, and those experiences translated into adulthood and the subsequent decades for this generation. They were among the best-equipped generations to take a change in their stride.
Strong Work Ethic
Another result of this generation’s determination is a strong work ethic. These people were known for chipping away at tasks until they were completed to the highest standard possible.
Moreover, most people had no support systems throughout the Great Depression. Strong work ethics were drilled into children from a young age because it was always viewed as a fundamental aspect of achieving the American Dream.
Self-Sacrifice
Another result of growing up in such a tumultuous time was a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. Every American was asked to make extraordinary sacrifices to preserve their freedom and liberty, whether at home or overseas.
The American way of life came under its greatest threat, and the population responded to the call. Children and adults made tremendous personal sacrifices during this period, which carried over to the Silent Gen as they reached maturity.
A willingness to sacrifice for a worthy cause is at the heart of how members of this generation approach complex tasks.
Sense of Fair Play
Self-sacrifice and adherence to the system also led to the emergence of fair play. The principles developed early in life mean these Americans look for justice and fairness in everything they do.
It applies to both personal and professional matters. They try their best because of pride in themselves and because they believe it’s fair for others to enjoy the fruits of that labor.
Stability
It should come as no surprise that a generation that grew up in such a chaotic and shifting time would ultimately come to seek stability.
While the Silent Generation years were defined by change, members of this generation would come to seek out stability later in life. Fiercely loyal to their beliefs, this generation’s goals were more modest than those of their predecessors and successors.
How to Find Information on Members of the Silent Generations
The Silent Generations are among the oldest still remaining. The number of people born between 1928 and 1945 and still alive today is rapidly dwindling. Time is running out for this generation, making it essential to learn about your family history while you still can.
Thankfully, finding information on members of this generation is relatively simple if you know where to look. Let’s examine some ways you can discover your ancestors.
Talk to Older Relatives
You may be lucky enough to still have someone in your life who was born during this period. If so, you have the opportunity to hear their stories and ask poignant questions about their way of life.
Alternatively, the chances are their offspring are still alive. Speak to Baby Boomers and Generation Xers. These people likely still have photographs, memories, and stories of their departed parents and grandparents.
Learning directly from the source is always the best way to research your family history.
Look Up Census Records
When people initially kindle their passion for genealogy, they often start from a blank canvas. The best way to begin your search for your relatives is with the U.S. census.
The census records for this generation are only just beginning to become available. As of April 2022, the U.S. government has released the results of the 1950 U.S. census, thus allowing you a complete view of the Silent Generation period.
You can easily search for census records with GenealogyBank. We’ve digitized publicly available census records to enable you to search online with ease.
Review Newspaper Records
Looking up the Silent Generation can be a bit more difficult because the current U.S. census available to the public only goes up to 1950.
However, there are no such restrictions on newspaper records. Search for birth announcements, marriage notices, and death records through the local newspaper.
GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives give you access to more than 300 years of American newspaper records, ranging from national to local newspapers. We have the most extensive newspaper records available online, making this platform one of the best to learn more about your ancestors’ lives.
Seek Out Military Records
Unlike the Greatest Generation, most people born between 1928 and 1945 wouldn’t have had the opportunity to fight during World War II. Yet this remained a time of conflict for the U.S.
The Korean War and the Vietnam War were the two major conflicts ordinary Americans from this generation faced.
Look up military records at GenealogyBank to find out if your ancestor served overseas and whether they won any medals.
Like the Greatest Generation before them, Silent Generation members were often reticent to speak of their wartime experiences. Military records can help shed light on what many prefer not to discuss.
Discover Family Members of the Silent Generation with GenealogyBank
The Silent Generation years were a time of great change in America and the wider world.
Map out your family tree and add some color to the names and dates of your ancestors with GenealogyBank. Our online platform provides over 300 years of American history through newspapers, census records, and military records so that your family story can begin to come to life.
Continue your journey into genealogy the easy way by creating an account with GenealogyBank now.
That fits my birth year perfectly and those traits mentioned are spot on. So grateful that I was raised during that era.
Thanks for writing us, Judith.
I am the only surviving member of my silent generation parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. My siblings from the baby boom are gone, so I’m just interested in what was their specific ideology and why. My cousins and I are truly looking and wondering where as a nation we are headed, and how to be a better steward of all God’s gifts.
Thanks for your thoughts, Edna.