Family members love to know their family history. Family history answers questions such as “How did Grandma Smith and Granddaddy Smith meet?” or “How did Uncle Luke acquire the family farm?”. Family members like to know who their ancestors were and where they came from. A family’s genealogy is best captured and portrayed using genealogy applications. A family tree, or a descendant wall chart is a great visual to educate family members on their lineage.
To create and maintain the family history and genealogy records, family reunion organizers will need to facilitate activities to:
- Document and update the family history
- Document and update genealogy records
- Print genealogy charts to share at the family reunion
Guidelines to Create and Maintain Your Family History
- Family history is comprised of stories and is best documented in a story-telling format maintained in a digital document or video format. Collect stories from family members, arrange the stories in chronological order, and document the stories in one online source
- Establish a Family History Committee to create and maintain the family’s history or “stories”.
- Capture memories via photographs or videos from family reunions with a professional photographer or designated family member and save them in one designated online location
- A Google Photo account is a good (and free) source for storing and sharing photographs and videos.
- For continuity and to prevent the destruction of items that cannot be replaced, multiple family members should be established as administrators of the online storage location for digital storybooks, photographs, and videos.
Guidelines to Create and Maintain Your Family’s Genealogy Records
Establish a Family Genealogy Committee to research records and create and maintain the family’s genealogy records. First, a questionnaire should be sent to family members to gather initial information to build the family’s genealogy records. Next, the family genealogy committee can search census records, cemetery records, and other genealogy resources. Genealogy records can be created and managed in a genealogy software application.
Genealogy Research Sources
Genealogy Software Providers
Genealogy Charts
Digital genealogy records can be displayed in visual format in the form. Common printed formats to display genealogy information include charts such as a family tree, descendant, and ancestor fan.
Genealogy Chart Printing Providers
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