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Family trees and genealogy searches are a great way to track your families past. If you would like to assemble a true record though, you want to assemble a ‘family history book’. This takes the whole idea of genealogy searches and record keeping one important step further by also documenting memories. There are several ways to go about this and we are going to discuss a few options to make your personal history book more complete and valuable as a keepsake for generations to come. As I refer to this as a book, be warned that as you do your research, you will be amazed at how fast you will gather enough information to fill much more than one book. You will also most likely gather other items along the way that can accompany your personal history book for future viewing.
Tapping Your Elders for Information
A family tree documents ancestors. However, how did they come to be part of your family? Are there any fascinating stories to go along with all the photographs gathered throughout the years? How about tidbits of information on some of your past family members, or even current ones? This can be anything from how Aunt Zelda met Uncle Ralph at a social during the depression. Or how Aunt Zelda ‘almost’ married another man, a dashing salesman who came late to the dance. It should also include any family member’s time in service to our country or other countries. My point here is that ‘all’ memories have value. The more you gather and document the better picture you will have to look back on. Gather up these memories and put them into a permanent form, so that future generations can enjoy these stories long after the people involved are no longer with us.
The first thing you will need to do is contact every elderly member of your family. Discuss with them what you are doing and why. Explain that you are documenting this for family use of future generations, so they can better understand where they came from. This can be done one on one or in a group situation. A friend of mine took advantage of her annual family reunion and with video recorder in hand, went around to everyone asking questions she had decided on ahead of time and a few more that came up from information she gathered that day. Manning the video camera is a perfect job for a teenager, as many elderly people love the idea that they can share this history with a new generation of their making, and it will also allow you to focus more on the questions themselves.
How to Document
Documentation can be done in several ways. A notebook for questions you have thought out beforehand is necessary. Video cameras are a perfect and exact way to document. If you go this route, each subject should give their own name and relationship to the family before starting in with the actual questions. Be warned, even in today’s modern world, there are people that are extremely camera shy. If this is the case, put away the camera for those individuals and use a notebook or my second choice… a cassette recorder. For a one on one interview, where you can keep the flow of questions somewhat in order, cassette recorders will also let you gather every bit of information without worrying that you missed some important piece of info in your note taking. When using this tactic, also have each person identify him or herself before starting with the questions. A notebook with good note taking is also acceptable. However you choose to do the actual documentation, make sure to copy everything. There truly is not much more in life as valuable as our own history.
Another way to add to the documentation is to ask each family member to write down his or her memories. You would be surprised at how much more information can be gathered this way, even after an interview. Also a perfect way to include family members that live too far away to include in your personal interviews. Telephone calls and email can be utilized for interviewing of those that do not live close by also.
Assembling
Once you have assembled photographs, traced out the family tree, and gathered memories from everyone you can think of in the family, you need to put all this information together so it is accessible and usable to future generations. Family history books that have outlines of information and items to be gathered are available on the market. Boxes for this purpose are also popular. Making your own is just as easy. Look for a box that will hold and protect all of the above. A large plastic box that will protect from water and dampness through the years is ideal. Everything you have gathered is probably substantial, but think ahead and try to leave room for additional items to be added by future generations.
Additional Memories
In addition to all the basic things one would imagine finding in a box documenting ones history, imagine the fun a future family member would have if it also contained some personal items. Wedding certificates, service papers, medals, a cookbook that was passed from grandmother down to great grandchild. Postcards that were sent from one family member to another are a great addition, immigration records, college records, work history, or even a piece of jewelry or other special item that has great sentimental value with historical value to the family. Whatever you choose to include in your book and additionally in your ‘Box of History’, know that future generations will thank you for many years to come!
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