On April 2, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARP) uploaded the entire 1940 census record online. Within eight hours, the site received 37 million hits, almost causing the site to shut down.

This got me thinking. Why would 37 million people want to surf through 72-year-old documents? After all, they were census documents, not Drake’s world premiere of his new music video. Also, I had thought only genealogists, historians and the occasional nostalgic old lady would be interested enough to search up something as boring as family history. But the fact of the matter is that 37 million people did indeed search for these documents, these documents actually had a legitimate demand.

There were probably numerous reasons why so many people searched for the 1940 census, but the main reason was presumably for the personal reasons of traveling through family trees. The census documents show people’s grandmothers, great-grandfathers and other relatives who were alive in 1940. Where did they live? Who lived in their household? What were their occupations? Thirty-seven million Americans had been simply curious about their origins.

The phenomenon of tracing back your history isn’t limited to this incident. In “Finding Your Roots,” a new TV series, notable celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson and Barbara Walters trace back their family history to find their “origins” and who their ancestors were. The TV show explores racial diversity and the cultural “melting pot” that is a unique characteristic of America. Even celebrities are exploring their family trees and stalking their grandmothers, in a sense.

So, should Carmel teens, living in the 21st century with iPhones and Honda Civics, search up their relatives who listened to the radio and watched black-and-white movies during their free time 72 years ago? Yes.

By going through the family tree, we regain our cultural, racial and familial identities. Especially through a useful resource like the census, we can see how our ancestors were doing economically and socially. And in this melting pot of America, holding onto a certain identity is an absolute must to assert your individuality.

It’s also more than just going through your family tree. When we look at the financial and societal problems that we have today, sometimes looking back can help. The 1940 census, in particular, shows a nation in its recovery from the Great Depression and on the brink of war. Perhaps looking at the problems that Americans faced in 1940 can give some clues as to how America today can alleviate the issues we have in 2012.

So the next time you have nothing else to do and all your Facebook notifications have been checked out, go online to archives.gov. Check out the 1940 census and see if your grandmother or relatives are there. And maybe, just maybe, you might unlock your 72-year-old side.