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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Sue15 on Thursday 31 October 19 18:17 GMT (UK)

Title: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: Sue15 on Thursday 31 October 19 18:17 GMT (UK)
Good Evening

No one wants to think about their own demise but sooner or later one we have to consider the question of what happens to all the hard work and researches when they pass on.

I have been asked to find a fitting home for the researches of a lady who has passed away as there are no family members wishing to continue her work.
The work is not currently online and was created before digital researching. It is beautifully presented with large drawn trees and all the supporting documents.
I would like to honour this ladies work and am trying to find a way that access can be given to this material.

Any ideas would be gratefully received

Many thanks

Sue
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 31 October 19 18:36 GMT (UK)
This is a subject that's come up quite a bit here before (one similar thread not that long ago, I think).

Is the research centred on a particular area? if so, perhaps local historical society, archives?
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: Sue15 on Thursday 31 October 19 18:40 GMT (UK)
Apologies I did try to see if I could find a similar thread but clearly missed it.

The research crosses various counties. I did wonder if any family history societies would consider it.
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: jillruss on Thursday 31 October 19 18:43 GMT (UK)
I'd try the Society of Genealogists in London. I'm pretty sure they keep a library of such research.
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 31 October 19 18:45 GMT (UK)
I'd try the Society of Genealogists in London. I'm pretty sure they keep a library of such research.

If the research is locally based then sending files to SOG, London might mean it's buried away where people would know of its existence?
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: chris_49 on Thursday 31 October 19 18:48 GMT (UK)
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=810384.msg6702900#msg6702900

though other matters were discussed
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: Sue15 on Thursday 31 October 19 19:00 GMT (UK)
Many thanks to you all - really helpful

best wishes

Sue
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: guest189040 on Thursday 31 October 19 20:09 GMT (UK)
Contact your County Archives, they may be keen to add them to the archive where the documents will probably be stored under temperature and humidity controlled conditions.
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: barryd on Thursday 31 October 19 23:09 GMT (UK)
Mine is on Family Search. org. Put it on there about a year ago. Took me quite a long time under the direction of an expert. The major thing is to avoid duplications. Was on Personal Ancestral  File which is no longer supported.
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: JohninSussex on Friday 01 November 19 01:19 GMT (UK)
Mine is on Family Search. org. Put it on there about a year ago. Took me quite a long time under the direction of an expert. The major thing is to avoid duplications. Was on Personal Ancestral  File which is no longer supported.

Will we ever see "it was written out on paper, which is no longer supported"?
No.  We can still access parish records written 3-400 years ago, but we would have to search for ages to locate equipment to read a 5¼ inch floppy disk written less than 30 years ago. 
So I would agree with the advice given and in the first instance consult either the SOG or local county FH society.
 
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: mckha489 on Friday 01 November 19 06:50 GMT (UK)
There has been some discussion about this on the SOG mailing list

conclusion was

"I spoke by phone with the SoG this morning. Unsurprisingly, they are short
of space and short of staff. However, my phone call was most productive. It
is clear that, at present, the SoG doesn't have space to accept everything
so, our cunning plan was for me to document a list of my old original
documents which (no guarantee) they might try to find space for. That is an
offer I was happy to accept.

Meanwhile, I will also digitise everything else (e.g. old letters from the
1930s). The SoG will accept the digitised version and, once they see the
content, can decide whether they would also like the paper copies (e.g.
correspondence from the 1930s).

I will be happy to be guided by their advice."

and

" a useful page on the SoG website. For those who
haven't seen it, it provides guidelines on how to prepare ones papers for
the SoG."

http://www.sog.org.uk/learn/share-your-knowledge/
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: Regorian on Friday 01 November 19 08:10 GMT (UK)
I checked first with Society of Genealogists, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire History Hubs and all three were very keen to have it (Tree and illustrated narrative).
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: Mowsehowse on Friday 01 November 19 09:12 GMT (UK)
I have found local museums very eager to accept copies of trees relevant to the area, with supporting evidence.
Thus family with roots in South Devon and branches in Wales and Yorks have parts illustrating their own local families plus roots.
Title: Re: The Fate of Family history research when we die
Post by: iolaus on Friday 01 November 19 10:31 GMT (UK)
Is there anyway the net can spread wider?  a distant relative may love to have it


I've been sent things by a second cousin twice removed who I only met through geneology and vice versa - it wouldnt surprise me if when she dies if myself or another cousin at a similar level weren't passed on her family history things