One mistake that genealogists often make is focusing so much attention on our distant ancestors that we overlook the people right in front of us. We spend most of our time hunting down records, chasing leads, and trying to understand lives that ended generations ago. Meanwhile, people in our own families are still here to tell us about their lives—and we don’t always think to ask.
Have you ever stopped to think about how you want to be remembered? What would you want your children, grandchildren, or future generations to know about you? Not just when you were born or where you lived, but what you did, what mattered to you. What stories and memories do you want your family to carry forward?
And in that spirit, I’m reaching out to my close and extended family, inviting you to tell me about your life. I’ve been thinking about different ways to make it easy for you to share your memories and experiences with the rest of the family.
There’s More Than One Way to Share
I’ve created an online form as one way to gather the details of your life and preserve them for future generations. It gives you a place to record the basic facts, but there’s also room to talk about the experiences, people, and moments that matter to you.
I also realize that this method won’t be right for everyone. People have different ideas about how they want to share their information and stories. That’s why there are several ways to participate.
I’ve also created a fillable PDF that you can download, complete, and email to me, or print and mail. And if neither of those options appeals to you, I’m happy to conduct a personal interview—in person, by phone, or via Zoom.
And if technology isn’t your friend, I’m happy to help. Whichever way you choose, here’s what the form covers, in case that’s the option you pick.
About the Form
The form covers the basic genealogical information you might expect: names, vital information, marriages, education, occupation, residences, military service, and more. There are also sections where you can share stories and memories, and an opportunity at the end to upload photographs and documents.
The form is designed to be flexible—you can skip any questions you don’t want to answer. Share only the information you’re comfortable providing. If you think I should include something that isn’t here, let me know—I can always add another question.
Use a separate form for each person. If you’d like to provide information about your spouse or another family member, the best approach is to have them complete their own form. That way, the information comes directly from them. Of course, you can fill it out for someone else if necessary.
I’m also inviting you to pass this along to your spouses, parents, siblings, and other family members. And if you’d like to record information about a deceased family member, please do. Sometimes the only way to preserve what we know about someone’s life is to have the people who remember them write it down.
I would also like to give family members a chance to share their stories on my blog. If you have a family memory, experience, photograph, or piece of family history you’d like to write about, I’d be happy to consider guest posts. You don’t have to be a writer or have a polished story ready. I can help you shape your ideas into something you can share.
What Will I do with the Information?
For now, I’m simply preserving it. But genealogy isn’t about keeping information in a database that no one will ever see. There would be no point in that.
Eventually, I’d like to create a private, secure website for our family. It would allow family members to explore our family tree and learn more about each other and the people who came before us.
From time to time, I may want to share a family story, memory, photograph, or family document publicly—for example, on my blog—but only with your permission. My goal is to preserve our family history—not to put anyone’s personal information on display.
Your Story is Part of our Shared Family History
And please don’t think of this as simply filling in the blanks for a family tree. I absolutely want those facts and details, but I also want what can’t be found in a census, birth certificate, or family tree—the experiences that shaped you, the memories, and the little details you might otherwise leave out. Tell them in whatever way feels natural to you. You know your life better than anyone else. This is your chance to tell it in your own words rather than waiting for someone else to piece it together from records and photographs.
Share what you know, because family history is more than a collection of names and dates. It’s the stories, memories, and details that make those names meaningful. So tell us what you want your family to know, in whatever way you want to tell it. And don’t worry—you’re not required to reveal any family secrets…unless you want to.
Complete the online form to share your story.