
Creating a family history book is like building a bridge between generations. It’s your chance to turn names, dates, and dusty records into a living story that future generations can appreciate. Whether you’re just beginning to gather stories or you’ve already amassed piles of documents and photos, a family history book is a meaningful way to organize and preserve your ancestry for years to come.
But where do you start? It can feel overwhelming when faced with boxes of old photos, birth certificates, and scribbled notes. The key is to break it down step by step. Below, we’ll walk you through how to create a family history book that not only organizes your genealogical findings but also breathes life into the stories of your ancestors.
Contents
Organizing Your Research: Laying the Foundation
The first step in building your family history book is getting your research organized. If you’ve been collecting documents, stories, and records for a while, it’s likely you’ve got a bit of a mess on your hands. This is your chance to sort through everything and categorize it in a way that makes sense for your book.
Start by grouping your research by family branches or generations. This way, you can structure your book to follow a clear lineage, helping future readers understand how each person is connected. Think of it like a roadmap—start with your earliest known ancestors and work your way forward.
Simple Ways to Organize Your Research
- Family Tree Software: Use software like Ancestry or MyHeritage to visualize and organize your family tree before writing your book.
- Folder System: Create digital or physical folders for each family branch, storing related documents, photos, and stories together.
- Timeline: Build a basic timeline of key family events to ensure you don’t miss important milestones as you write.
If you find yourself stuck with missing information or tricky family lines, a professional genealogist can help fill in those gaps, guiding you through the maze of historical records.
Deciding on a Format: A Narrative or Documented Approach?
Once your research is organized, the next step is deciding how you want to present it. There are two common approaches to writing a family history book: the narrative format and the documented format. Each has its own strengths, so the choice depends on how you want your book to read.
The Narrative Format
In a narrative format, you’re telling your family’s story in a flowing, chronological way, almost like a novel. This approach works well if you want your family history book to read like a story, where the focus is on the people, their experiences, and how they lived. This format allows you to weave family stories, historical context, and personal anecdotes into a cohesive tale. It’s great for making the past feel personal and alive.
The Documented Format
The documented format, on the other hand, is more focused on facts and records. Think of it as a genealogical record book that lists ancestors, key dates, and important documents. While it might be more factual, it’s a fantastic way to ensure that all your genealogical research is preserved accurately. This approach is useful if you’re focused on creating a resource for future genealogists in your family.
- Narrative Format: Best for weaving stories and creating an engaging, readable family history.
- Documented Format: Ideal for presenting factual genealogical records and ensuring accuracy.
Many people blend these two formats, combining storytelling with documented facts. This approach keeps readers engaged while ensuring the historical accuracy of your findings.
Choosing Which Stories to Include
One of the toughest parts of writing a family history book is deciding which stories to include and which to leave out. After all, not every detail needs to make it into the book. Focus on the stories that help paint a picture of your ancestors and their journey. Think about key events, like migrations, marriages, family traditions, and moments of hardship or triumph.
Remember, your family history doesn’t have to be all about famous ancestors or epic tales. Sometimes the most powerful stories are those of everyday life. Did your great-grandmother survive a challenging period during the Great Depression? Was there a family business passed down for generations? Even small details like how your ancestors celebrated holidays can add depth and personality to your family’s history.
Tips for Choosing Meaningful Stories
- Focus on Milestones: Include key life events like births, deaths, marriages, and migrations.
- Highlight Traditions: Family traditions, whether holiday customs or special recipes, can bring your history to life.
- Don’t Forget the Everyday: Sometimes the simplest stories, like daily routines or hobbies, offer the most insight into who your ancestors were.
If you’re struggling to piece together personal stories, a professional genealogist can help you track down personal records, diaries, or newspaper mentions that might uncover new details about your ancestors’ lives.
Adding Photos and Documents: Bringing Your Book to Life
No family history book is complete without photos and documents. These visual elements help break up the text and give readers a tangible connection to the past. Start by collecting as many family photos as you can, especially from older relatives. The further back you go, the more valuable these images become, offering a rare glimpse into the faces of your ancestors.
But don’t stop at photos. Scanned copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses, military records, and even handwritten letters can add richness to your book. These documents not only provide proof of your research but also add depth to the narrative. When adding these to your family history book, make sure you include a brief explanation of what each document represents and why it’s important to your family’s story.
Ideas for Incorporating Visuals
- Photo Captions: Always add captions to your photos, explaining who is in the picture, where it was taken, and its significance.
- Document Sections: Create a section at the back of your book for important documents like birth certificates, letters, and wills, providing both a visual and historical record.
- Timelines and Maps: Visual aids like family timelines or maps showing migration patterns can help bring your ancestors’ journeys into focus.
If you’re missing key photos or documents, a genealogist can assist in locating archival records that may include images, land deeds, or other paperwork related to your family.
Preserving Your Family History for Future Generations
Once your family history book is complete, think about how you want to preserve and share it. Printed copies are great for passing down to children and grandchildren, while a digital version ensures your work is safe from physical damage. Consider donating a copy to local libraries or historical societies that might have an interest in your family’s story, especially if your ancestors were prominent in a particular region.
You should also think about how to regularly update your family history book. Family trees are never static—new research, new family members, and new discoveries mean there’s always more to add. You might want to create a supplemental section or digital add-ons to continue building your family’s history as time goes on.
Best Practices for Preserving Your Book
- Printed Copies: Make several printed copies and distribute them to family members, ensuring the book is passed down through generations.
- Digital Backups: Save a digital version of your family history book on cloud storage, external drives, or shared family platforms for easy access and long-term preservation.
- Regular Updates: Create a system for adding new information or stories as your family grows or as more research comes to light.
Not sure where to get your book printed or how to organize all the digital files? A professional genealogist can offer guidance on both preservation and sharing, ensuring your family history is not only recorded but passed down securely.
Making Your Family History Personal
At the end of the day, your family history book is a personal archive of your lineage. It’s not just about who your ancestors were—it’s about who you are and how their stories have shaped you. Whether you create a factual document filled with records or a narrative that brings your ancestors’ stories to life, this project is an opportunity to connect with your past in a deeply meaningful way.
And if the process feels daunting, remember that you don’t have to do it all alone. A professional genealogist can help you navigate the research, organize your findings, and ensure that your family’s history is preserved for generations to come.










