Sometimes in the never-ending quest for information about our ancestors, we forget that our own lives may be of interest to the next generation of family historians. Why not take some time now to collect and organize your personal documents, and thus to create a legacy of your own?
Everyone Has a Tale to Tell
Even if you have no immediate descendants, or your children aren’t interested in family history, future genealogists will still find your life worth knowing about. Most of us remember a favorite uncle, or have heard stories of another relative we wish we could have known. Sometimes, when reading history, a person grabs us, not because we’re related, but simply because his life was interesting, or she left a diary describing events of the time.
Genealogists and family historians who compile complete family histories will document every member of a family, whether or not the line continues to the present day. Everyone leaves behind memories, documents, and stories. Take some time now to make sure your own aren’t lost.
What Personal Documents and Records Should you Keep?
Think of all the documents you search for when learning about your ancestors. The first things that come to mind are vital records – birth, marriage, and death records. Remember that birth certificates are especially useful, and are often difficult for others to obtain. Privacy laws prohibit most states from releasing copies of birth certificates until a person has been dead for many years; some states have additional requirements that must be fulfilled. Don't forget wedding invitations, newspaper clippings, and other material commemorating important family events.
Collect Military Papers and Memorabilia
For veterans, collect discharge papers, medals, dog tags, photos of the person in uniform, insignia and other items that people who serve in the military bring home. Most veterans will have other souvenirs – photos of people in the unit or places where they served, items picked up in foreign places, and perhaps a lucky coin or a saint’s medallion.
Collect Church, School, and Sports Memorabilia
Some children were given gifts at baptism, and most adults still have these special presents. Churches often give out certificates for various events, and you may have been given a prayer book or other religious book at confirmation or some other milestone. If there’s no inscription describing the event, be sure to write a note inside explaining who gave it to you, and for what occasion.
Almost everyone has a school yearbook or two. Pull them out of the closet, along with other school-related items. Letters earned for sports activities, certificates for good conduct or winning a spelling bee, and senior pins or rings are all common school souvenirs. Did you contribute to a school newspaper or literary magazine? Look for memorabilia from extra-curricular activities in which you participated.
Tell Your Story
Just because you’ve collected all the documents and memorabilia you can find, doesn’t mean you’re finished. You need to tell your story, whether it’s in written form, or perhaps as an audio or video tape or DVD, or a set of pictures. Describe some of the memorable events in your life, or your view on public events and how the world has changed in your lifetime. Tell the story of your military career, or life in a small town, or how you met your spouse.
Don’t forget tales of your grandparents, or what it was like to grow up in a particular place or time. How did you get along without some of the technology we take for granted now? Consider how excited you would be to find similar stories written by your great-grandparents – and know that you, yourself, can provide valuable information for coming generations.
What Do You Do with These Things?
The first thing to do is collect everything. You may end up with a thin file folder, or with several boxes, so this is the time to inspect it all. Most genealogists would rather have too much than too little, so don’t be too quick to throw things away.
In addition to the items you've collected, consider what else might be of interest to the next generation, but that you're not ready to put in a box. Make a note of favorite jewelry or other household treasures that ought to be part of the collection eventually.
For all of these items, you will want to be sure that anyone looking at the material will understand what it is. Documents, certificates, and papers are usually pretty clear, but what about military collar insignia or other pins or medallions? Attach them to a card and write down what they signify. Label all pictures. As genealogists, we know the importance of labeling photos – many of us have inherited collections of old photos without identification, and we know how frustrating that is.
Organize, Protect, and Safeguard
You can keep everything in a box or filing cabinet, or you can really do your descendants a favor: organize and protect your items. Use acid-free boxes and materials to store photos and papers, and organize the collection chronologically or by category. You can create a genealogy scrapbook yourself or use the opportunity to involve younger members of the family in learning about family history. See Fun Family History Projects for Children and Families or Teaching Tweens and Teens Genealogy and Family History Skills.
How Do You Want to be Remembered?
Everyone has a place in his or her own family history, but it’s easy to overlook the task of compiling your own genealogical information. Take some time now to collect and organize your tangible memories to ensure that your place in the family history won’t be an afterthought.
Katharine Garstka - Katharine Garstka specializes in genealogical research and in historical and genealogical writing.
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