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How Do You Keep Family History?

Published in Family History Preservation 2 mins read

Keeping family history involves collecting, organizing, preserving, and sharing stories, documents, and artifacts that connect you to your past.

Methods for Preserving Family History

Preserving your family history is a multi-faceted process that can involve both physical and digital approaches. The goal is to ensure that precious memories and information are accessible for future generations.

Collecting and Organizing Materials

Start by gathering everything you can find: photos, letters, diaries, documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, military records), heirlooms, and even audio or video recordings. Organize these items logically, perhaps by person, family branch, or time period.

Preserving Physical Artifacts

Caring for physical items is crucial. Use archival-quality storage materials like acid-free boxes, folders, and photo sleeves to protect items from degradation. Store materials in a stable environment, avoiding extreme temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight.

When managing physical copies, especially photographs, be mindful of quantity and quality. As archivists recommend, it's best practice to keep at most two copies of historical materials to avoid unnecessary clutter and duplication. Don't hesitate to toss blurry or severely under/over-exposed photographs as well, as their historical value is often limited. If you feel uncomfortable throwing away any photos, consider providing a set to a relative that would appreciate them and might be able to identify people or events within them.

Digitizing Your History

Creating digital copies of physical items provides a backup and makes sharing easier. Scan photos, documents, and letters at a high resolution. Digitize audio and video recordings using appropriate equipment. Organize digital files with clear naming conventions and save them in multiple locations (e.g., external hard drive, cloud storage).

Sharing Your Story

Family history isn't just about collecting items; it's about the stories they tell. Write down or record interviews with older relatives. Create a family tree. Share your findings with family members through printed books, websites, or online genealogy platforms. Sharing helps engage others and ensures the history lives on.

Digital Tools and Resources

A variety of online platforms and software can assist in organizing and preserving your family history. Genealogy websites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org help build family trees and find records. Photo management software can organize digital images. Cloud storage services offer secure backup for digitized materials.

By employing these methods, you can effectively keep your family history alive and accessible for years to come.