Who Will Take Over My Family History???

[Lynn H]

I have been sitting here reading some threads and it got me thinking, who can i get to take over my family history research after i'm gone. (Not that i plan on going for a while yet) but i have no family members that are remotelly interested in what i'm doing and it breaks my heart to think it will end. I have written letters to my kids, and asked them not to destroy all the hard work i've done, in the hopes that interest will come with age.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do to get them interested?

                                     Lynn.

[jc26red]

I have seen several copies lodged at local librarys and family history centers which make interesting reading and I've always thought that was quite a good idea as you never know who is going to come along and make an enquiry.

I was lucky enough to find that someone who took over a house my OH's ggrandfather lived in wrote to the local FH society to say what he had left in the house and that it lots of items had remained in one or two rooms for more than 80 years! Considering this was a "blue plaque" house from a later inhabitant I was so pleased to find the information.

jc

[rover]

Enjoy it and share it while you are still breathing.

Place your data in as many places as you can. Start your Family Tree in a dozen places. Make it colourful.

Go to it every day and be proud of your creations.

Once you kick the bucket it does not matter any more. You'll be fast asleep forever.

Have a worry free New Year.

[Lynn H]

Hi rover, i wish i had your attitude toward my tree, but unfortunately i don't. I have worked long and hard to get my information and i'll be damned if i'll let it all go to waste.

                                       Lynn.

[ronica]

G'day Lynn

I know my ageing Auntie ponders this question too!! Her daughter is not interested in all the work she has done but she has a neice and nephew (me & my brother) who have caught the bug.

But if you have no one interested submit your information to a library or family history center or something similar where someone interested will seek it out some day.

I discovered some great stories about my great grand mother from a lady who took the time to write her memoirs and place them in the state library. There is a story about the day she first met her husband, the story of their wedding day, plus much more. The lady had even submitted a photo that none of the descendants had ever seen before!! It was an absolute gold mine when i found it all.

So submit your info to a place where others will seek it out!!

Ronica

[LoneyBones]

It won't go to waste Lynne. If you post your tree to a few reliable, long standing web sites (Family Search, Ancestry) it will be there forever for all your unknown families and descendents to find in the future.
Leonie.

[petersgill]

Hi,  You may be surprised to find that your kids will be more keen that you thought to ensure your hard work is at least taken care of.  They may just be thinking you can do it all so they don't need to know how.

My dad was always telling us about his latest finds and I wish he had been a bit more pushy insisting that I take a proper look at how he organised things and updated his website.  My brother and I are short of time but my daughters are also interested and between us we will keep things updated if nothing else for now.

Very useful to know about the libraries as well.

[Mum44]

Peter -

Welcome to Rootschat      

I'm a pushy parent - but my son shows no interest at all!  I don't want to push too hard, because at least at the moment he listens - don't want to put him off altogether.

On-line storage seems the best idea - but the only interest he shows in my website at the moment is the technical side - content doesn't inspire him!

Still, there's hope yet - and I plan to keep it in front of him - not that it's that missable, being in about 10 large folders in the front room!

[Lynn H]

Mum44.  Thats it. !!!!!!!! 

I'll get him to get involved by designing a website for me. He is very good with computers as thats his job. If i keep him interested that way, he may just stay with it. He always listenes to what i am telling him and has said that when he gets to my age he might start to do it. He's only 27 so he has a long way to go. This could just work!

                      Thankyou for all the input.


                                  Lynn.