| Ever wondered how you can keep all your family | | | | stories you've heard from them. |
| history artifacts alive, safe and well-organized? | | | | Some people come across scrapbook-worthy |
| Ever wondered how to best present all the | | | | things in the course of researching their family |
| scattered bits and pieces that together form the | | | | tree; some simply have them lying around the |
| patchwork of your family's past? Family tree | | | | house; others inherit them. Still others choose to |
| scrapbooking is a great way to both present and | | | | search for them. If you haven't already done this, |
| preserve your ancestral memorabilia and family | | | | then the best way to start off is by contacting |
| lore. It can work as a fulfilling hobby that will leave | | | | your relatives and collecting the items and |
| a legacy for the future generations. Here is what | | | | information they possess. Ask for specific items |
| you need to know to successfully get started on | | | | that are of interest to you-- often, people either |
| this amazing journey. | | | | forget they have something or don't consider it |
| Family tree scrapbooking lets you unleash your | | | | valuable, so jog their memories and challenge their |
| creativity and imagination. There are few rules | | | | imaginations with your own suggestions. |
| and lots of scope. Just about the only firm rule | | | | Make sure everything you collect is well organized |
| you should follow is: plan ahead! Determine how | | | | and accurately labeled. That way you'll always be |
| you are going to lay out your scrapbook-- | | | | sure to include all the relevant information that |
| chronologically, by family branches? Carefully plan | | | | helps put a particular item in its historical and |
| your layout before you start, so that you can get | | | | personal context. |
| that perfect scrapbook worthy of carrying your | | | | Keep scraps of paper and paper clips handy, so |
| family memories to future generations. | | | | that you can remember who the original owner |
| Here are some of the things you will definitely | | | | of the item is. People often want their original |
| want to include: | | | | photographs returned to them-- that is fine, since |
| - Photographs - both old and new ones. Try | | | | scans or photocopies work great for family tree |
| collecting family photographs through an organized | | | | scrapbooking purposes. And don't forget to look |
| family get-together or during individual interviews | | | | on the back of photographs and jot down any |
| with your relatives | | | | notes that may exist there, identifying dates, |
| - Letters or pieces of writing by your ancestors. | | | | people or places in the photograph. |
| This can include any and all letters written by your | | | | Make the whole scrapbook come alive through |
| family members-- to their spouses, to children or | | | | decorations and embellishments. Be free and |
| to important personalities of the day. | | | | imaginative and leave your own personal imprint: |
| - Any letters of appreciation received by your | | | | use fabric and ribbons (vintage ones are great), |
| family members. Look for documents | | | | add colors, use stencils or calligraphy. Feel free to |
| acknowledging distinction in civic service, | | | | add historical significance by including items from |
| appreciation for war time service, academic | | | | the relevant era, like stamps and coins, even if |
| performance etc. | | | | they did not belong to your family per se. |
| - Copies of census records which include | | | | Your family tree scrapbook can take the people |
| references to your ancestors; copies of birth, | | | | who are reading on an unforgettable odyssey |
| death, and marriage certificates, church records | | | | through the ages, bringing documents and |
| and any other documents that define the social | | | | information to life. Done correctly and with joy |
| life of people in your family. | | | | and feeling, famiiy tree scrapbooking is one of the |
| - Transcripts of interviews you've conducted with | | | | most powerful ways we have of connecting to |
| family members or accounts of interesting family | | | | our past. |