RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: linda51 on Sunday 12 February 23 20:06 GMT (UK)
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What are others planning to do with their research? My children aren't interested and I hate to think of it all being thrown out. There is a possibility of archiving in a small museum on one side of my family. The research I am most proud of is about my father - he was born in France of a French mother and an English father with the surname of Jones! He died in West Africa when I was 10 and I knew very little about his life. It's a voyage of discovery as I've found he was almost certainly recruited by MI6 according to the chief archivist of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
I heard of a repository at the War Office but it already has too many personal research documents. Any ideas?
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I think this a problem quite a few of us are having. My daughter is interested, but I doubt if she will ever want to plough through all my research. I keep trying to at least tidy and rationalise all the paperwork, but even so... The document you describe sounds more interesting and important than most of mine - perhaps have it bound so that others in the future may take care of it and someone may eventually read it?
I have really come to the conclusion that I have done the work for my own satisfaction rather than for posterity.
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It is difficult.
I've started to write mine up into a report. It's harder than I thought it was going to be, and I'm not sure I've done the best job. :(
I'm going to get it printed out and a few copies given to a few interested relatives. But what will become of it after that, I'm not sure. My own son is currently showing any interest.
Another possibility to leave it for future generations is to write up the history and publish it as a free ebook. Then it exists online, for as long as online exists in theory.
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I seem to recall someone asking this question here a few months ago. Have a look through the back numbers, rather than repeat the whole thing ? :(
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Unless a relative is extremely keen it is unlikely they would sift through mounds of paperwork, however people do often develop an interest as they get older, so if you have a comprehensive tree online with copious notes, then presumably anyone interested in the future would be able to find supporting documentation for themselves if they want it. You could include images of documents if your family history programme allows it.
Any essentials like certificates and any original documents could be stored together in the hope that whoever inherits your stuff will keep it, but being realistic you probably need to face the possibility that it could all end up in the tip.
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I have told my family that all the research is in 'that box' - just photos, certificates I have found, writings, momentoes etc etc. Two neices have expressed interest, so I have told them a little more . . .
I don't expect them to become really interested until they are older - not enough time really -
but that is OK. I won't be here to worry about it. ;) ;D
Wiggy
P.S - they may want to do all lthe interesting searching again for themselves - - just think of the fun we've had doing it!
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Just a suggestion a bit left of field.
In Australia and maybe elsewhere the law requires that a copy of every book published in Australia is submitted to the National Library.
The solution might be to publish in print form, be thorough in what you include, do a small resonable quality print run (much as theses were done in the past) and send a copy to the National Library as required by law and any state library as they too have the same legal obligation.
Other genealogists might be interested in your research so a copy sent to a genealogical society may survive long enough to attract your grandchildren's interest in family history.
Regards
phenolphthalein
pH
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Thank you for all your suggestions. You've given me a few suggestions I could follow up and you've tweaked my brain into remembering other avenues too............a precise of essential facts, keeping only a minimum of documents - maybe in book form. Also an investigative journalist I always meant to contact..........and the Centre d'histoire de la résistance et de la déportation in Lyon which covers the area my dad was in in 1943.
Thanks again to everyone.
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Unfortunately, most research is largely only of interest to the person undertaking it. How many times have you offered advice only to be ignored?
There was of course my friends late mother; president of the local FH Soc. who undertook extensive research over many decades and couldn’t understand why her son didn’t have any intrest in it. He contended that she had left nothing for anyone else to research.
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Have a look here:
https://www.sog.org.uk/depositing-materials-with-us
If you convert your research into a book, and the material has sufficient general local interest, your local archive service may well be interested; SoG (above) would certainly welcome a copy. I have donated documents and research to several libraries and museums - this is rather piecemeal as the donations are to match the purpose of the receiving institution. My father's Home Guard papers are with the Imperial War Museum, for example, and my mother's papers from 1930s university are in the university library.
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I have thoughts about writing a “book” that would include historical references/social events of the day…..
I started a family WhatsApp group…..”Who do you think you are” and did short videos on individuals….like my wife’s grandmother who married an Irish showman, she then committed bigamy…she was b 1886-1970…I related that Queen Victoria was on the throne, the Wright brothers flew, television was invented etc she live through two worlds wars.
My kids loved these wee videos
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A combined process is my goal.
DIGITAL
All inherited photos, documents etc have been scanned and I am in the process on cataloging them into my digital folder system. Read Me PDF and Word Docs are included in each section explaining how the system works.
There are video files in MP4 format where I explain what is what and give an illustrated talk about specific family members.
There are a series of PDF / Word Docs / Publisher Docs on each family line and on individuals
The folder layout is Genealogy > then 20+ sub folders with the first ten being as per Ancestry’s search results Filter Categories.
The Main Read me file has the Ancestry user name, password and eMail address used (gmail) together with its password.
Gedcoms are included
SOFTWARE
I use Roots Magic which has a mobile version running off a USB memory stick, this device also has the Genealogy folder and all the digital content.
HARDWARE
Multiple copies of the USB stick exist plus all the digital files are on a USB hard drive.
PAPERWORK
Three folders, Photographs, Family History and Stories and Certificates.
Plus the inherited Family Box of trinkets, medals, albums, notebooks and all include Paper Booklet versions of the PDF’ files mentioned prior.
STORAGE
All the above is stored within a metal Trunk that would not look out of place in any home.
FINALLY
The USB memory sticks will be distributed to Cousins in due course.
Its the best process that I could come up with and currently I am working on a Book, not a genealogy reference book, but one that could in-still in my younger relatives an interest in their family as it will include stories, descriptions of their direct predecessors and their lives and how we go back hundreds of years.
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Try the Local History Group for the county (counties), most would be willing to accept material pertaining to families within the county. At Sussex FHG we digitise the info, whether family tree, notes or narrative and then make available to other SFHG members on request.
Pheno