It used to be that the mere mention of watching home movies would elicit inward groans. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as having friends set up the projector screen to show you slides from their most recent vacation, but it came pretty close. The joy of home movies was definitely confined to those people involved…
We wait. We wait to hear the latest weather forecast. We wait to hear if the hurricane will turn away from our town or toward it. We wait to hear about how bad it might be. We know the hurricane is coming. But questions remain. Do we need to pack a bag and get out…
With Memorial Day upon us, I am reminded that we have already lost so many members of the World War II generation. Their sacrifices, both at home and on the fields of battle, should be honored and appreciated. Each member of this generation had stories—tales of triumph on the shores of Normandy, tragedy at Pearl…
It’s opening day for Major League Baseball today. In my house, that’s synonymous with a major holiday, an occasion to celebrate. It also reminds me that, for many, baseball is a big part of the family story. It can even be part of the glue that binds a family together. It can be a shared…
When you are researching your family history, you undoubtedly look at census rolls, birth and death records, and marriage documents. But don’t forget to check out local newspapers. Newspapers can provide a wealth of information. They can give you a picture of life when and where your ancestors lived. You can also gain an understanding…
The start of a new year tends to be a time when people do a lot of organizing—cleaning out closets, tidying drawers, and generally bringing order to their lives. I hope that you are considering doing the same with your family history collection—your photographs, documents, stories and heirlooms. One aspect of the family legacy that…
On Thursday, your table will be filled with all sorts of culinary delights. Let me suggest that you add one more item to your dinner plans: make a point of recording a slice of your family’s history. Take advantage of the occasion. Friends and family are gathered around the table. Nostalgia pays a visit. Take…
Are you one of those people who have piles of documents, mounds of genealogy research, and boxes of photographs? Do you want to pull all that data together and write a family history that you can share with others and preserve for future generations? If you are serious about writing a family history, here are…
You’ve all seen them. Those faces staring out at you when you stroll the aisles of an antique store. No, it’s not the security guard or the anxious owner checking to see if you are actually going to buy something. I’m talking about the faces you find on the photographs that wind up displayed on…
Over the past several years, there have been many articles written about how grown children aren’t interested in keeping the older generation’s stuff—the family heirlooms, the furniture that family homes were built around, the items with sentimental value. It often causes trauma for both generations: the kids feel bad but don’t want to be saddled…