Author: Jenny Kulikowski
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Please pass the memories: Family history around the Thanksgiving table
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. Write each of the following questions or prompts on an index card or a piece of paper and… Read more
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What does home mean to you?
HOME. What idea does that word conjure up for you? Do you immediately think of a particular place or even a particular house or apartment? Or is it more nebulous than that? I’ve been talking to a lot of people lately about what home means to them. For some, it is a community. The geographical Read more
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Curating your vacation photos adds value and meaning
Are you someone who takes hundreds of photographs during every trip you take? Or have you inherited a big pile of vacation prints from your parents or other loved ones? Here are some tips on what to do with all those vacation snaps to give them more value and meaning for years to come. Read more
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Family History Explorations: Honoring American Immigrant Stories on the 4th of July
Family History Explorations: Honoring American immigrant stories. With the July 4th holiday right around the corner, we often think about barbecues and fireworks, but the date also conjures up the ideas of patriotism and what it means to be American. But what is the quintessential American story? For me, the most American of American stories… Read more
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Extra! Extra! Read all about it!: Newspapers are key to family history research
Newspapers can be a tool in family history research. 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. Read more
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Writing a family history: Tips for getting started
Are you one of those people who has 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… Read more
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Passing family treasures to the next generation: Bridging the divide
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… Read more
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Timing is everything: When is the best time to start preserving a loved one’s life history?
If there is someone in your life who you feel should have his or her story preserved, my recommendation is to start the process as soon as possible. Too often I have heard someone lament, “I wish I had recorded my mom’s/dad’s/grandparents’ stories when I had the chance. Now it’s too late.” Here’s how I… Read more
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“Play ball!”: Baseball as part of family history
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. Read more
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My passion for personal history started with my grandmother
Why do I love personal history? My experience with preserving my grandmother’s story led my to want to help others tell their own stories and preserve their family’s history. Read more