Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2024 October)
Many of us have that one relative who is passionate about genealogy. Perhaps you are that relative. Genealogy enthusiasts are often deeply devoted to their hobby, spending long hours combing through archives and other sources to fill in the branches of their family tree. However, genealogical research is not for everyone. If you are interested in documenting your family history, there are ways to capture stories and memories without combing through digital archives or purchasing a subscription to ancestry.com.
Document Your Story and the Stories of Family Members
How often do we know the names, birth dates, occupations, and other details of an ancestor’s life without really knowing their lived experiences? In 1973, at the age of 62, my great-grandmother wrote several pages in her shaky cursive and titled the document “This is My Life.” In the pages, she recounts her life, from her birth in rural Kansas in 1911, to her marriage in 1929 and her family’s struggle to survive during the Great Depression and beyond. Reading the document as an adult was an eye-opening experience, providing insight into the circumstances and history that shaped the hard-working and stoic woman I knew as a child.
Documenting our own lives and experiences and asking our family members to do the same can create an invaluable record for future generations. If writing isn’t your strong suit, many of us now own a smartphone or tablet, making it easy to record audio or videos of our stories and the stories of loved ones.
To document the life of a loved one who is deceased, consider asking family members and friends to share a favorite story or things they remember about that person, for example, their favorite books, hobbies, travels, or holiday traditions.
If you aren’t sure what to write or talk about, consider using prompts. StoryCorps has several lists of prompts on their website – storycorps.org/participate/great-questions. Some of their prompts include:
- How would you like to be remembered?
- What have been some of the happiest moments in your life? The saddest?
- What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
Another useful tool available to Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) cardholders are the Family History Kits, which includes interview prompts, a digital voice recorder, and instructions on how to get started. Learn more at research.fairfaxcounty.gov/genealogy/family-history.
Organize and Label Family Photos
While photo albums aren’t as popular as they once were, you may have albums you created or that you inherited from a relative. As you flip through the pages, do you recognize all the people in the photos? Will you children and grandchildren know who they are? The answer to the second question is probably no, so it is important to document as much as possible about each photo – who, what, when, where – for future generations.
You can do this manually by writing or typing a list that corresponds to the photos. Another option is to scan your photos to create a digital archive. Names, dates, locations and other important information can be added to the metadata of the photos, ensuring that identifying information cannot be separated from the photos. If you don’t own a photo scanner, there are businesses you can hire to digitize your photos. DIYers can also scan their photos at one of FCPL’s Memory Depot stations. Learn more at research.fairfaxcounty.gov/memory-depot.
Organize, Digitize and Archive Old Family Letters
Like photos, you may possess a collection of old letters sent to you or inherited from a loved one. While it may feel intrusive to read someone else’s correspondence, letters can provide wonderful insight into the thoughts, feelings and relationships of deceased loved ones. Letters may also give a glimpse of events in history as they were witnessed by the letter writer.
Best practice is to organize correspondence chronologically if possible. If the letter writer didn’t date the letter, look for a postmark on the envelope. Once letters are organized, you can scan the letters to create a digital archive. Finally, archivists recommend storing old letters this way:
- Unfold letters to prevent wear along fold lines.
- Put each letter in a clear sleeve along with its envelope.
- Put the sleeves in an archival file folder, which can then be stored in an archival box.
- Store boxes in a cool, dry location (not a hot attic or dank crawl space).
Create a Family Recipe Archive
Food often holds a central role in family traditions. It is one way we connect with our culture and plays a big part in family celebrations. Creating a family recipe archive is a great way to document and pass recipes and stories along to future generations. Here are a few tips for creating an archive:
- For recipes without a written record, ask the keeper of the recipe to demonstrate how they prepare the dish step-by-step so you can observe the process. Make sure you measure or weigh each ingredient, time each step, note cooking temperatures, and document it all in writing. Then using the written recipe, prepare the dish to see how well you were able to duplicate the original, and fine tune it as needed.
- If you have old recipe cards, scan each card, then type the recipe to create a digital version that can be easily shared.
- Encourage family members to contribute recipes to the archive. Ask them to include favorite stories or memories related to the dish along with the recipe.
- Is a recipe culturally significant? Document this in the archive.
- Ask younger generations to submit recipes that hold special meaning to them and encourage them to continue the tradition with later generations.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).