Family history: Storytelling with a theme or topic
Choosing a subject or topic to tell a story Day-to-day aspects of life 100 years ago or more When trying to capture what life was like 100+ years ago, it is difficult to know a person's personality or character from a photo. While photos may not reveal an ancestor's personality, we can come away with ...
Family history: Understanding relationships
Telling a story through family relationships One example: When cousins marry cousins Not allowed in every state these days, in our not-so-distant-past it wasn't uncommon for a cousin to marry a cousin. A look at populations and geography and one can better understand the reasons. How does this effect our understanding of family when, through research, ...
Ancestor profiling using memory
Moments in time One memory leads to another It has happened to us all. You walk into someone's home and you see something familiar, perhaps a jacket draped over a chair. You do a double take. It's very similar to the one grandpa wore on that special day long ago. As you approach to take ...
Storytelling: Let me count the ways
Think outside the box Start with communication When my children went to college, I soon discovered I would be contacted in one of three ways: my oldest called, my middle emailed, and the youngest sent texts. To this day, these are their preferred methods to communicate with me. Think about this: Maybe the oldest is ...
Document and photo preservation
Preserving old documents and photos Documents, papers, photos and more I wrote about preserving photos and other old documents in IN A PREVIOUS POST. This one, however, takes a closer look at materials currently recommended. Take a look at Susan's article to read tips and tricks for preserving your documents. While it can be expensive ...
Family history: What’s in a (nick)name?
The significance of names in family history Considerations when naming children Have you considered your first, middle, and last names? Were you "named after" someone in the family? Perhaps you were given great aunt Grace's first name, or uncle James's middle name? Maybe you use a nickname or a derivative of a longer, traditional name? ...
Family history: Stories and setting the scene
Preserving family history through storytelling Fleshing out the story, using time and place Samuel Smith "travelled thousands of miles on foot and went emphatically 'everywhere' preaching the gospel." I'm not sure what comes to mind when you read that sentence, but for me, it provides a visual I wouldn't otherwise have. I knew my 4X ...
Family history: Using the spoken word
Storytelling and preserving family history Considering various methods While this blog is about creating ancestor profiles using your family's heirlooms and documentation, there are myriad ways to pass along family history. Take a look at how Susan reminds us that oral storytelling should not be forgotten as a means to preserve our history. Can ...
Photos: Help identifying unknowns
Identifying unknowns The place for help with family photos Steps you take now may help in the identification of your photos. Where did you find the photo? Was it with the Smith collection or in the Butterfield tubs? Chances are, the person belongs to that family. File or label it accordingly. Have you tried to ...
Family history: Record using various methods
When writing is not your thing Think of your "go to" method to communicate When I began this blog, I was intently focused on the written form of ancestor stories. My goal is to teach my children about their past, and as a writer, making notes or creating a few short paragraphs is a piece ...
The Malevolent Matriarch 