DEPEND®

By Joli Guenther

Most families tell stories, but few actually take the time to record them. Creating a family history is easier and more fun than ever with software and technology that make creating audio recordings and books accessible to everyone. A family history can be as simple as an oral recording or as complex as a hardcover keepsake, bound and finished by a local publishing house. Most importantly, your history creates a permanent record of the stories that are unique to your family. As founder of Memory Makers magazine, Michele Gerbrandt reminds us, "writing about a once in a lifetime event or just about your everyday life ... your words will tell future generations the stories your photos can’t."

Give it Focus

Whether you’re creating an oral recording or keepsake volume, family historian and published author Michael John Neill advises developing a specific focus to organize your project. You could decide to focus on a point in time, a specific number of generations of a family line, or an important story. Narrowing your focus may help you discover that you have additional information that would be better included in a second project. A smaller scope can also make the task more manageable, leaving you with enthusiasm and direction for future projects.

Make it a Group Activity

Allowing multiple generations to contribute can make the journey as meaningful as the final product. If you’re developing an oral history, enlist the help of family members to serve as interviewers and encourage them to develop their own interview questions. Children and teenagers can also help in sorting photos and selecting layouts for scrapbooks. Knowledgeable family members may also be able to provide needed computer skills, such as copying CDs, and formatting written documents.

Seek Out Software

To make document formatting more enjoyable, Donna Przecha, researcher and author, recommends purchasing computer software. Software programs, such as Family Tree Maker, are available on-line or at your local office supply shop, and can help you develop large charts that are broken down across several pages. Providing visual information, such as charts, timelines, and photographs, will give a better picture of the context of your stories. You may also find templates and forms for downloading at www.familytreemagazine.com/freeforms and in the workbook, Unpuzzling Your Past (Betterway Books). If you choose to use a print shop for producing your work, check in with them after you’ve completed the first few pages to see if they have any formatting suggestions.

Enjoy Yourself!

As a final bit of advice, Przecha advises you to allow plenty of time. Your first history may take longer than you expect, so starting it two weeks before the family reunion could leave you stressed out about completing the project. Most importantly, enjoy the process of sharing your stories and creating a keepsake future generations will treasure!

Have you ever created a family history? Share your experiences with others or pass along some great advice on our Friends & Family discussion boards!