| Do you want to publish your family history on the | | | | history of a few pages and 10-20 photographs. |
| Internet? | | | | However, in most cases, the writer will take more |
| The answer is, "Yes". The primary reason is to | | | | time than originally thought because there will likely |
| capture and preserve in one place all family | | | | be more material to include than initially estimated. |
| memories so that everyone can see it - and | | | | However, usually the time needed ceases to be |
| different family members can contribute. And, for | | | | an issue because the work becomes interesting |
| most people, a blog is the best Internet publishing | | | | and fun! |
| platform because it is relatively easy to learn and | | | | Why write your family history? |
| it costs little or nothing. | | | | The simple, but most significant answer is, |
| What if you are only interested in genealogy and | | | | "Because it's personally rewarding". I will explain. |
| a family tree plus a few photos and notes? | | | | Starting in 2002, I spent hundreds of hours as |
| Then maybe a site like will fit your needs. | | | | "Chief Writer and Editor" of the extensive A. E. |
| Ancestry has a good family tree application plus | | | | Garden Family History. (I'm still adding material.) |
| an organized approach to genealogy research. | | | | It was a kick to capture in words the stories |
| After a free trial, for only a few dollars, using | | | | about my ancestors that I heard many times - |
| Ancestry saves hours and hours of researching | | | | adding associated photos and images of family |
| other genealogy sites. | | | | historical items made it even more fun. |
| Or do you have a lot of family history material? | | | | Also, I know that there is now a permanent |
| Biographies and associated material are the most | | | | record of my family history online for not only |
| popular elements of a family history. Family | | | | the present generation, but also for future |
| members may have much biographical material, | | | | generations to appreciate - truly gratifying! |
| including many photos and family stories. You may | | | | The thanks of relatives who repeatedly express |
| have family keepsakes, heirlooms and | | | | their appreciation is also gratifying. |
| hand-me-downs to photograph and write about. | | | | For example, the grandchildren who never knew |
| And so forth. | | | | their grandfather loved reading the stories that |
| With more material, an online family history site | | | | characterized him and, in one grandchild's words, |
| will fit better than a genealogy only site. | | | | made him seem "real" - their appreciation was |
| Is the technology too difficult and too costly for | | | | worth all my work! |
| an online Family History? | | | | It was also rewarding and fulfilling to work with |
| The answer to both questions is, "No". With the | | | | and develop closer relationships with family |
| tools available, if a person can do email and | | | | members who contributed to this family history. |
| navigate the Internet, that person can learn to | | | | On a very personal basis, to be able to dedicate |
| write and publish a family history on the Internet | | | | this to two people who cared very much about |
| with a blogging platform. For most people, even | | | | their ancestry - my father and my mother - was |
| relative beginners, learning how will take only a | | | | a huge satisfaction. My mother had spent many |
| few hours. In addition, various help facilities are | | | | hours on our genealogy and it felt great to |
| available online. | | | | continue and expand her work. Also, in doing the |
| How much time will this take? | | | | research and the writing, I came to understand |
| As mentioned above, it will take most people only | | | | better how much my father had been "formed" |
| a few hours to learn to use the tools. After this | | | | by his ancestors - and therefore how important |
| learning period, how long it will take to do a family | | | | ancestors are to all of us. |
| history depends, of course, on how much material | | | | You may find the results interesting if you enter |
| will be included. | | | | into your Google search box: "why write a family |
| A benchmark might be less than one week, | | | | history". |
| working a few hours a day, to do a smaller family | | | | |