Who Will Take Over My Family History???

[Jake1980]

I was thinking the same thing recently. I'm going to give mine to the SoG at some point but as I'm only 27 I've probably got another 50 or so years of potential research time.

Ever thought of sticking it all in a time capsule and burying it in your garden?

[Trees]

Welcome to Roots Chat Jake I hope you have as much fun here as we do and get a lot of help with your research let us know how we can help
Trees

[Lynn H]

Welcome Jake.

When i left Canada to come and live here, that is exactly what i did with 38 of my diary's. I regret it now though.

                               Lynn.

[Just Kia]

Don't worry much over who will be the one to take over your research - they just might not be born yet!

My grandfather's brother started our tree, spent years on it and even had paid help from a professional.
I managed to trace everything he had (without the benefit of his research) in a matter of a couple of weeks online - I haven't actually left my desk in the name of research yet

I've taken it much further than he had - siblings/sibs spouses/spouses ascendants/etc and even gone a generation further on the direct lineage much to my surprise.

So, it could well be that one day one of your siblings grandchildren picks up the research and gets the genealogy bug!

[RichardK]

The way I see it, FH is like a jigsaw puzzle.  Someone else can look at what you've done and say "ooh that's nice", but the person who derives most benefit from it is the one whose done the research, wrestled with the tricky bits and got the satisfaction of solving each bit.  Therefore look after the irreplacable and the original with the utmost care, but vast volumes of notes you've acquired in the course of your research probably increase the likelihood that someone will simply decide to discard the whole lot.  Make it clear which bits couldn't be replaced from official repositories.  It's not always clear what those are - my parents interviewed my late great grandmother about the family shortly before she died in 1982, and the notes they took from that don't look much but are invaluable!

[little meg]

I think we all have this concern.

I had a break through the other day, one of my distant cousins (5th or something) who does the family history with me, has a daughter the same age as my daughter.  Even thought neither are into family history they chat to each other on the net all the time.

I may not have someone to carry on the tree but I have linked the next generation together, hopefully these distant cousins, from across the oceans, will become mates for life, and their children etc.   
A different concept, but still carrying on the tree in one form or another

Margaret

[mike175]

A couple of years ago I found some very good archival quality journal type books each in it's own box. They were on sale so I bought them all. (5) One day when I'm sure I have my facts all correct I'm going to start writing my family history into them. (soon) I already have two large hard cover note books with family history, unfortunately they don't lend themselves to photos but I've already started putting my photos into archival albums. These are almost impossible to buy now so I've had to make some up myself. Not a very difficult job, getting acid free tissue is much easier these days too. No way would I trust my photos to plastic sleeve type albums.
cheers,
Leonie.

Hi Leonie,

Just browsing this topic, and wondered if you know about the 'My History' site:
http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Genealogical_Storage.html

I've found them very helpful, with a nice personal touch. I emailed them recently about 100 sheets of A3 archive quality paper, which they were advertising in 25-sheet packs, and they actually added a 100-sheet pack to their list that same day! 

Mike.

[indiapaleale]

This theme has been raised several times in the few years that I have been a member of Rootschat......and each time...I scratch my head!

Doing my family tree has given me great pleasure....especially in finding connections that I never imagined...e.g. The American Revolution.....A hanging in Wiltshire.....7 British Home Children shipped to Canada.

But....if my kids throw it all in the rubbish that is OK.....because I will be dead.

 

[nudge67]

Quite honestly, I had little interest in family history until the death of my last surviving grandparent within months of the arrival of my firstborn, shortly before turning 40. Suddenly, it all became very important to do, while my daughters 3 remaing grandparents remained in good mental health.

Talk about a missed opportunity! My grandmother, Jeannie Rees,  worked for the South Australian Archives - imagine what we could have talked about!

It is to honour her memory that I dedicate my research.

I don't care if anyone follows it on - but I do care that I have done my best to make it available for them if they wish to build on it.