Do you have a pile of documents or a file drawer full of documents, photos and maps related to your ancestor? Thinking of writing a book but can’t find the time or energy to write a whole book? I recommend that you start with a scrapbook.
Focus on one ancestor. Put the documents in chronological order. If you can, scan the documents in .jpg format so you can paste them into your Word or PowerPoint document.
Now on each page you might want to write a short paragraph about the document. Is it a picture of a Bible page documenting the birth of your ancestor? Or is it a copy of a first school report card? Do you have a picture of the “first school”? Or do you have a picture of your ancestor as a child? When was it taken and where?
Continue with pictures of weddings, babies, and houses. Identify the people in the picture as best you can and the location or address of each house. Add maps that show the county, township or village where they lived. Search online for old postcards of the town or village. Add copies of death certificates, funeral cards and obituaries.
By putting the documents in chronological order, you are creating the story of your ancestor’s life. The location and time period will frame the story. This electronic document can be expanded as you learn about the historical context of the time and place where this ancestor lived.
Save the document on a flash drive, take it to a quick printer for print and binding. Distribute copies to family members at a minimal cost. You will have saved your research in an organized fashion and shared the story of this ancestor with your family.
~ Carol Cooke Darrow, CG, is a member of the Colorado Genealogical Society.