How to leave your descendants a family history legacy
Ask Yourself
If you don’t write your family history, who will? What will happen to your records after you are gone? What do you want your descendants to know about you? Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Keep clean, accurate family history records
Organization is the key
Should be easy for anyone to be able to look at your records and know what is there Make sure everything has been cited. Keep a log of what you found and where you found it You want to make it easy on the next person Look at it like it is a relay race and you are passing the baton Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Preserve your records on a flash drive or on CDs
Use a scanner to digitize all your records Update your digitized records frequently Keep up to date on the latest storage technology, you never know what future technology will bring Use a genealogy software to record your history Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Pass down heirlooms you were given along with their history
Know the history of your heirlooms, and make sure that it’s written down somewhere Keep your heirlooms in a secure place or display it for all to enjoy The heirlooms belong to you. You decide where they go and who gets them Make sure they have an appreciation for these items and will preserve them as well Don’t want them showing up on ‘Pawn Stars’ Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Create your own heirlooms and pass them down
Turn your crafts into family heirlooms Quilts, cross-stitch, and paintings can be passed down to your descendants Do you have something that is precious to you? Pass it down Do you have jewelry, watches, knick-knacks that hold special meaning? Anything can become a family heirloom if it has meaning to you Pass down new heirlooms to your descendants along with the story behind it Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Keep a collection of things that represent your life
Get a nice box and fill it with mementos What items do you own that represent your life? Keep a log of what is there along with an explanation of its meaning Make sure your family knows it’s there and what the items mean. Continue to add (or take away) items as you see fit Take it out from time to time to remind you of the good times in your life Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Pass down:
Pass it down
Stories about your life Stories that were told to you about you childhood Stories about your ancestors
Be sure they are written down and kept in a secure place Indicate whether the story is first hand information or if it is a family tale Things that seems insignificant to you now will be a treasure to your descendants years from now Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Keep a Journal Who wouldn’t want a Civil War journal from their great great-grandfather?
Your descendants are going to feel the same way about you Start keeping a journal about significant things in your life Either hand written or as a file on your computer Only write what you find interesting. Remember others will read it after you are gone. What do you want your descendants to know about YOU? 9 Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
Keep a Research Journal Different from a personal journal A Research Journal: The place to keep the facts of your investigations Dates of your research List of records you found along with the citations Write about your joys and frustrations Your personal feelings you had while researching your ancestors
This is the place to talk about that colorful ancestor that you are obsessed about. Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Family Recipes
Create your own Dead Sea Scrolls Is there a family recipe that has been passed down to you from your grandmother? Is there a recipe that you mother made that you want to see survive the ages? Is there a recipe that you create that your children love that can be passed down to your grandchildren and great grandchildren? Write them all down and add them to your family history records Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Family Traditions What traditions do you have in your family that you want to see passed down? Is there an old family tradition that is no longer practiced? Bring it back Pass down these family traditions and add them to your journal or family history records Let your descendants know what was important to you Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Time Capsule
Create a time capsule for your family
Include the following: A letter to your future family (HS project) Items from your childhood Newspapers of the day Items from your children’s lives
Bury it and set to open it in 25 years Make sure the family knows where it is and when to open it Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Audio Recording Never go to a family reunion without an audio recorder Doesn’t have to be a formal session, impromptu talks work best Get the conversation started by saying, “Hey Dad, tell John about the time you….” Make backup copies of the tapes and keep them in a secure place Include these recordings in your family history files Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Personal Message Make a digital recording of yourself to your descendants Briefly talk about your life and family Plan out what you want to say and how you want to say it This is your opportunity to send a message to future family members This will become a treasure to them in years to come Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Pass it on Is there someone else in your family that is showing an interest in your research? Find someone in your family that will carry the torch What will happen to your research after you are gone? Make sure they know where everything is Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Codicil
A codicil is a supplement or appendix to a will. This only works if you already have a will A codicil will determine where your genealogical records will end up Make it thorough by including records such as books, files, notebooks, and computer programs This is where you state who gets your family history records If no one can be found then have them donated Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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Spread the wealth Donate a copy of your genealogy records to the local genealogy society or organization You may have information that someone else may need Again, make sure it is neat and organized so that anyone can come in and find what they are looking for Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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In Conclusion If you don’t write your family history, who will? What will happen to your records after you are gone? What do you want your descendants to know about you? Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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THANK YOU Jim Lawson Kindredquest.com
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How to leave your descendants a family history legacy
