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= Introduction = | See also: | ||
*[https://www.byutv.org/player/172a35b3-3e43-4f9c-b90e-79e593d26360/ancestors-writing-a-family-history?listid=4fe0fee5-0d3c-4a29-b725-e4948627f472&listindex=2&q=%22family%20history%22 Ancestors Season 2: Writing a Family History] - video | |||
*[https://media.familysearch.org/new-years-resolution-write-your-life-story-52stories/ New Year's Resolution: Write Your Life Story #52Stories] - FamilySearch blog article | |||
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== Introduction [[Image:Happy Family.jpg|thumb|left|152x152px|Happy Family.jpg]] == | |||
This lesson will help you explore some of the ways to preserve your unique family heritage. | This lesson will help you explore some of the ways to preserve your unique family heritage. | ||
= What Is a Family History? = | == What Is a Family History? == | ||
A family history is a record of a family and of the lives of family members. It is usually written as a book, and this lesson will give ideas and instructions on writing a family history book. But a family history can take many forms, including the following: | A family history is a record of a family and of the lives of family members. It is usually written as a book, and this lesson will give ideas and instructions on writing a family history book. But a family history can take many forms, including the following: | ||
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*A record of your family with you as a parent, containing recollections of your children and your other descendants. | *A record of your family with you as a parent, containing recollections of your children and your other descendants. | ||
*A written history of an ancestor containing several generations of family information going back in time. | *A written history of an ancestor containing several generations of family information going back in time. | ||
* | *An ancestral family history with a chapter for the couple you start with and additional chapters for each descendant family. | ||
*A collection of family traditions and their origins. | *A collection of family traditions and their origins. | ||
*Newsletters. | *Newsletters. | ||
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== When To Create Your Family History? == | == When To Create Your Family History? == | ||
Start now to write a family history, even if you only work on it a few minutes a day. Those minutes—and the work you do—will add up over time, and you will accomplish much as you work regularly and consistently. Do not procrastinate working on your family history. The longer you wait, the more likely it will be that older family members may die or become invalid without passing along the memories that could be so valuable for you. You will never finish gathering family information or researching your ancestors, so don’t put off writing; you can always do a second volume to include new information you discover. Or you can do a binder of stories, which is easy to update. | Start now to write a family history, even if you only work on it a few minutes a day. Those minutes—and the work you do—will add up over time, and you will accomplish much as you work regularly and consistently. | ||
Do not procrastinate working on your family history. The longer you wait, the more likely it will be that older family members may die or become invalid without passing along the memories that could be so valuable for you. You will never finish gathering family information or researching your ancestors, so don’t put off writing; you can always do a second volume to include new information you discover. Or you can do a binder of stories, which is easy to update. | |||
Set a realistic time schedule. This will be a big project. Schedule enough time to gather information, organize it, and compile it into a finished format. | Set a realistic time schedule. This will be a big project. Schedule enough time to gather information, organize it, and compile it into a finished format. | ||
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*Do you want to focus on one family in a geographic location? | *Do you want to focus on one family in a geographic location? | ||
{| | {| width="500" border="1" align="right" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| valign="middle" | | valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | '''Expert Tip:''' If you plan to make your family history available to other family members, begin now to compile a mailing list of relatives and friends who may be interested in owning a copy or who may be interested in contributing to the project. | ||
interested in contributing to the project. | |||
|} | |} | ||
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Once you have determined what you know, you can begin to organize it according to the form of history you have decided to create. If you are writing a book, you can determine what chapters will appear in the book. Will you organize the book chronologically? Will you divide it into chapters that deal with each branch of a family? If you have enough information, you might also determine how you will organize each individual chapter. To help you organize your information, you could consider creating a timeline for those people who are the focus of your work. | Once you have determined what you know, you can begin to organize it according to the form of history you have decided to create. If you are writing a book, you can determine what chapters will appear in the book. Will you organize the book chronologically? Will you divide it into chapters that deal with each branch of a family? If you have enough information, you might also determine how you will organize each individual chapter. To help you organize your information, you could consider creating a timeline for those people who are the focus of your work. | ||
Look over what you have organized, and determine what gaps there are in your knowledge. What don’t you know that you need to know to carry out your plan? 3 The next step is to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. Gather items and information related to the people you plan to write about in your history. Store everything you find in a safe and secure place. Keep in mind that you can continue writing your history as you gather information. If you wait to begin writing until you have finished gathering information, you may never get around to writing your history. Also it is often best to write when the gathered information is fresh on your mind. The following ideas might help you as you gather information: | Look over what you have organized, and determine what gaps there are in your knowledge. What don’t you know that you need to know to carry out your plan? 3 The next step is to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. Gather items and information related to the people you plan to write about in your history. Store everything you find in a safe and secure place. Keep in mind that you can continue writing your history as you gather information. If you wait to begin writing until you have finished gathering information, you may never get around to writing your history. Also it is often best to write when the gathered information is fresh on your mind. | ||
The following ideas might help you as you gather information: | |||
*Interview all living relatives who may remember events in the lives of your subjects. Or perhaps they never met the subjects but they remember stories of them as told by older family members. Another possibility is that they may remember community and world events that affected your ancestor, even if they do not know how your ancestor experienced the events personally. | *Interview all living relatives who may remember events in the lives of your subjects. Or perhaps they never met the subjects but they remember stories of them as told by older family members. Another possibility is that they may remember community and world events that affected your ancestor, even if they do not know how your ancestor experienced the events personally. | ||
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*Maps | *Maps | ||
*Index | *Index | ||
== Things to Consider as You Write == | == Things to Consider as You Write == | ||
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*Fictional histories (histories based on factual names and places but woven around events and experiences that may not have actually happened to your ancestors) are very popular. They can be fun to read. Family histories, however, are not the place for fictional accounts. | *Fictional histories (histories based on factual names and places but woven around events and experiences that may not have actually happened to your ancestors) are very popular. They can be fun to read. Family histories, however, are not the place for fictional accounts. | ||
{| | {| width="500" border="1" align="right" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| valign="middle" | | valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | '''Expert Tip:''' If you are a genealogist, you will know the importance of documentation. When you create a family history, documentation is also important. You can use footnotes or endnotes to document the sources of your information. Some people find notes located at the end of the chapter less distracting than notes located at the bottom of a page. These chapter end notes are also easier for you since you can add extra end notes without disrupting page layout and format. An easy alternative is to include short parenthetical notes in the text, with a “Works Cited” section at the end of the book for more extensive information. If you use a computer to write your history remember to save and back up your work often. | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Start Writing == | |||
*What was an average day like in his profession or trade at that same time? | As you begin writing, do not get bogged down with anxieties you might have about writing. Get the<br>information, stories, feelings, and outcomes recorded. Don’t worry about style, grammar, and punctuation at this<br>point; you can polish your writing later. The following suggestions may help you if you are writing a book for your<br>family history: | ||
*Did your ancestor have to contend with hostile neighbors? Did they | |||
*How did your ancestor celebrate holidays and special events? | *As you include stories and statements from family members, don’t overly edit their words. Sometimes it is very effective to include unique speech patterns, grammatical errors, and the style of the speaker. You should be careful,however, to avoid making someone look less educated. | ||
*Would your ancestors have used a particular dialect? If they emigrated to a new location in their lifetime, how did they adjust to their new culture? | *Consider a possible three-part format for each chapter: | ||
*How did your ancestors deal with disasters that happened during their lifetimes (economic difficulties, epidemics, clashes in cultures, floods, droughts, and so on). | **Stories and accounts about the family or individuals. | ||
**Photographs and illustrations that document events. | |||
**Additional documents that supplement your stories. | |||
*Discuss sensitive material with anyone you think may be concerned or affected by the material before you include it in your writing. | |||
*Tell the truth, but don’t be offensive or defensive. | |||
*Try to understand the choices and challenges your ancestors faced. Try to get your readers to empathize with each character. | |||
*Ask questions and get answers as you write. For example: | |||
**How did your ancestor get his property? Did he homestead? Did he inherit it? If he bought it, how did he get the money to purchase the land? How did he finance it? | |||
**Did he have to clear trees, dig irrigation ditches, or build a road to his property? | |||
**What was your ancestor’s profession? What was it like to have the job he had? | |||
**What was an average day like in his profession or trade at that same time? | |||
**Did your ancestor have to contend with hostile neighbors? Did they find neighbors who were helpful and supportive in times of need? | |||
**How did your ancestor celebrate holidays and special events? | |||
**Would your ancestors have used a particular dialect? If they emigrated to a new location in their lifetime, how did they adjust to their new culture? | |||
**How did your ancestors deal with disasters that happened during their lifetimes (economic difficulties, epidemics, clashes in cultures, floods, droughts, and so on). | |||
*The less you know about your ancestors, the more you will have to use general historical information about their place and time to put them into historical perspective. | *The less you know about your ancestors, the more you will have to use general historical information about their place and time to put them into historical perspective. | ||
*Don’t let your writing become a list of dates and places. Include stories and background information to bring dates and places to life. | *Don’t let your writing become a list of dates and places. Include stories and background information to bring dates and places to life. | ||
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*Write a chapter; leave it for a few days, and then go back to it. Does it makes sense? Is it interesting as you review it? | *Write a chapter; leave it for a few days, and then go back to it. Does it makes sense? Is it interesting as you review it? | ||
{| | {| width="500" border="1" align="right" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| valign="middle" | | valign="middle" bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | '''Expert Tip:''' If you use a computer to write your history, remember to back up your work often. After all your hard work and effort, it would be very frustrating to lose the information because of a computer failure. | ||
|} | |} | ||
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== Resources == | == Resources == | ||
'''Websites''' | |||
*How to Write Your Personal and Family | *[http://www.genealogy.com/sharing_research.html A selection of resources for writing family histories.] | ||
*Writing Family Histories and Memoirs by Kirk Polking. An outline of why and how to write different types of family histories, with brief information on basic research. | *[http://www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/compass/7004.asp A guide for writing family histories.] | ||
*Scrapbooking Your Family History by Maureen A Taylor. Organizing and preserving materials for family history based on memory books. | *[http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/ This surgeon general’s Web site helps build the health histories of family members and ancestors.] | ||
*Writing Up Your Family History by John Titford. Information on preparing, writing, and publishing your family history. | |||
*You Can Write Your Family History by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack. Guide to writing your family history. | '''Books''' | ||
*''How to Write Your Personal and Family History''—a resource manual by Keith E. Banks. General resource for personal and family history writing. | |||
*''Writing Family Histories and Memoirs'' by Kirk Polking. An outline of why and how to write different types of family histories, with brief information on basic research. | |||
*''Scrapbooking Your Family History'' by Maureen A Taylor. Organizing and preserving materials for family history based on memory books. | |||
*''Writing Up Your Family History'' by John Titford. Information on preparing, writing, and publishing your family history. | |||
*''You Can Write Your Family History'' by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack. Guide to writing your family history. | |||
== Ideas for Teachers == | == Ideas for Teachers == | ||
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Consider the needs of your class members, and plan and adapt the materials to suit their needs. | Consider the needs of your class members, and plan and adapt the materials to suit their needs. | ||
'''Teaching Goals''' | '''Teaching Goals''' | ||
*Help students understand that there are a variety of ways that a family history can be created and preserved. | *Help students understand that there are a variety of ways that a family history can be created and preserved. | ||
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*After reviewing the students’ progress in their family history research, help them know if they are ready to begin writing a family history. | *After reviewing the students’ progress in their family history research, help them know if they are ready to begin writing a family history. | ||
Preparing to Teach The following suggestions are important if you are working with your class members for the first time. | '''Preparing to Teach''' | ||
The following suggestions are important if you are working with your class members for the first time. | |||
*Contact your class members before the first class period and get to know a little about each student. | *Contact your class members before the first class period and get to know a little about each student. | ||
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== Teaching Ideas == | == Teaching Ideas == | ||
During the first class | '''During the first class''' | ||
*Bring several examples of family histories you have found. Share how you feel about these histories. Ask if any of the class members have a history of an ancestor that is significant to them. Discuss how the relations and descendants of your class members might feel about the family history they are planning to write. | *Bring several examples of family histories you have found. Share how you feel about these histories. Ask if any of the class members have a history of an ancestor that is significant to them. Discuss how the relations and descendants of your class members might feel about the family history they are planning to write. | ||
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*Encourage the class members to begin gathering information and objects they will use as they begin to create their family history. | *Encourage the class members to begin gathering information and objects they will use as they begin to create their family history. | ||
'''During the second class''' | '''During the second class''' | ||
*Ask class members what information and or objects they found that might prove helpful in creating a family history. | *Ask class members what information and or objects they found that might prove helpful in creating a family history. | ||
*If class members have begun writing a family history, ask them if they would be willing to share what they have created. | *If class members have begun writing a family history, ask them if they would be willing to share what they have created. | ||
*Have the students who desire, exchange stories. Give them time to read the stories and then have the class members discuss | *Have the students who desire, exchange stories. Give them time to read the stories and then have the class members discuss the stories and ask questions about them for enrichment and clarification. | ||
*Have students discuss whether they want to change or modify the focus of their family history project after their work so far. | |||
*Review the list of Websites and books. | |||
*You may want to invite and encourage students to set a goal for when they will complete their personal history | |||
the | ==See also== | ||
[[What to do with the genealogy and family history I collected]] | |||
[[Category:New to Genealogy]] | |||
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