Creating a Family Legacy
Sitting around the living room during family gatherings are always a special time for many families. With the holidays fast approaching, some of us will get to visit with relatives we haven’t seen in a long time. Stories will be told, photo albums will be passed around, and traditions will be shared. But many times we will lose the older members of our family before the next family gathering comes around. With them, we lose much of our family’s history.
Preserving the rich history of a family goes beyond the simple research behind constructing a family tree. Many of the stories told recount a simpler time, a simpler way of life, a way of life that is not known by the younger members of a clan. These are the stories that make up an entire family legacy. It is up to us to preserve them.
While sitting with your relatives during these times, have a notebook handy to jot down some of the main points of the story that is being told. If you have a small personal tape recorder, you can use that as well, although be polite and let the storyteller know they are being recorded. If there are pictures in the family photo album that prompted the story, jot down in your note book which one it was. Later, when things have quieted down, sit down and write out as much of the story as you remember. This is a form of journaling and it is one of the best ways to keep memories intact. If you have questions, ask the family member that told the story the next day to clarify for you what they said.
If you have the time and inclination, start a scrapbook that contains these stories instead of leaving it just in a notebook. While not necessary to do to preserve your family’s history, a scrapbook is a legacy of its own. It is a visual representation of the people and friends that make up your own unique world. Use acid free paper to mount your photographs and stories and embellish them with anything that strikes your fancy. Jot down little tidbits in the margins that you want to remember, such as Uncle Joe being elected class clown in 1903. Not only are these fun, they paint a picture of the relative that may not have been there before.
Take plenty of photos at family gatherings. With the advent of the digital camera, we can immediately see and mark our photos so that we do not forget who each individual in the picture is. Make sure you save your pictures on an external medium as well, such as a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM in case you ever lose your hard drive. These photos are too precious to lose. Print your photos on photo paper or acid free archival paper for inclusion in your scrapbook or journal. If they fade, you can always print them again.
Lastly, add in that family tree. Place it in the front of the scrapbook and do your best to keep it up to date. Involve your family in keeping their history and legacy alive. Let your children add their thoughts about their favorites relative, even if it to say that Aunt Lucy smells like disinfectant. It’s these memories that are the most precious and create the richest legacy.
Bill Brennan is an avid reader and researcher who loves to share his finds with the rest of us. He believes we all need to do something to find out about our family history for our own personal development and self esteem.