What Will Happen When I Become a Death Certificate

[bevj]

Very true, and very interesting.
I fortunately come from a family of hoarders so I have in my possession a lot of files full of original documents and photos dating back to the mid-19th century;  dozens of letters between relatives, prison papers (g-g-grandad was a transported convict), wills, legal docs, shipping papers, notes of all sorts.  I do remember that some time ago the Fremantle (W.A.) library said they would be interested in photos and papers related to the history of the area.
None of my children is even vaguely interested in family history, though they are still relatively young and maybe as they get older they will take it up.  I hope they do.  My plan is to leave all my family history papers in files, backed up with pen drives, and hope that someone takes pleasure in them some day.
One thing I can't agree with more is the comment about labelling photos.  I  have so many photos, old and more recent, which I'm sorry to say I can't put names to.  It's such a shame when you look at a photo and have to wonder who it is - and you have no way of finding out!
Bev

[Ayashi]

Part of me would like to make my research into a properly arranged book, but part of the problem (other than sheer laziness) is that I want everything to be correct because it would be awkward to find out part of my research is wrong after publishing it. Where do you stop? How much of the pencilled in "this looks right but I don't have enough to say 100%" do you include?

Then I remember- I'm not having children, my brother hasn't had any children and probably won't, so the line is going to end here anyway.

[chiddicks]

Very true, and very interesting.
I fortunately come from a family of hoarders so I have in my possession a lot of files full of original documents and photos dating back to the mid-19th century;  dozens of letters between relatives, prison papers (g-g-grandad was a transported convict), wills, legal docs, shipping papers, notes of all sorts.  I do remember that some time ago the Fremantle (W.A.) library said they would be interested in photos and papers related to the history of the area.
None of my children is even vaguely interested in family history, though they are still relatively young and maybe as they get older they will take it up.  I hope they do.  My plan is to leave all my family history papers in files, backed up with pen drives, and hope that someone takes pleasure in them some day.
One thing I can't agree with more is the comment about labelling photos.  I  have so many photos, old and more recent, which I'm sorry to say I can't put names to.  It's such a shame when you look at a photo and have to wonder who it is - and you have no way of finding out!
Bev

Thanks Bev, you are extremely fortunate that you come from a family of hoarders, although I have a few bits and pieces myself, I am probably the first one in my family to keep things for future generations, I just hope that they appreciate that after I've gone! Like you, I have lots of photos, but I am gradually going through all mine labelling them as best as I can, that way, at least there is a chance they might survive!

[chiddicks]

Part of me would like to make my research into a properly arranged book, but part of the problem (other than sheer laziness) is that I want everything to be correct because it would be awkward to find out part of my research is wrong after publishing it. Where do you stop? How much of the pencilled in "this looks right but I don't have enough to say 100%" do you include?

Then I remember- I'm not having children, my brother hasn't had any children and probably won't, so the line is going to end here anyway.

A book is the dream end product and why not write for yourself! it doesn't have to be for any future generations, write just for you!

[Mike Griffiths]

I agree with Chiddicks - write your story anyway!

I wrote a book on my mother's family history, had it printed, and distributed it to every relative I could think of on that side.  The response was overwhelming, and I discovered an obscure relative who had done her own family research and who has asked me to write a book on her branch of the family.  I am confident that some of the books will be passed to future generations, so if a descendant wants to do research they will have a strong starting point.

[Andrew Tarr]

I wrote a book on my mother's family history, had it printed, and distributed it to every relative I could think of on that side.  The response was overwhelming, and I discovered an obscure relative who had done her own family research and who has asked me to write a book on her branch of the family.  I am confident that some of the books will be passed to future generations, so if a descendant wants to do research they will have a strong starting point.

An old friend of ours has done this for his line and his wife's.  I'm not sure how widely it has been distributed, and his children both live in Oz, so there is 'posterity' to carry it forward.  But having read it I was mostly impressed by the work that had gone into it, not the content.  For me it has to be connected to the wider world and local contexts for me to find it interesting.  Of course if the ancestors have left big footprints that is different.  Mine haven't as far as I know.

[Mike Griffiths]

I wrote a book on my mother's family history, had it printed, and distributed it to every relative I could think of on that side.  The response was overwhelming, and I discovered an obscure relative who had done her own family research and who has asked me to write a book on her branch of the family.  I am confident that some of the books will be passed to future generations, so if a descendant wants to do research they will have a strong starting point.

An old friend of ours has done this for his line and his wife's.  I'm not sure how widely it has been distributed, and his children both live in Oz, so there is 'posterity' to carry it forward.  But having read it I was mostly impressed by the work that had gone into it, not the content.  For me it has to be connected to the wider world and local contexts for me to find it interesting.  Of course if the ancestors have left big footprints that is different.  Mine haven't as far as I know.

Andrew, I agree entirely.  My ancestors were all working-class types, so the only bits of information I had about many of them were dates of births and deaths.  I filled in a lot of gaps with historical context (the Irish potato famine and subsequent waves of emigration, etc.) but I also used quite a bit of creative license.

[CWCarter]

Hi All

I wish my family had been hoarders, all of my grandparents and parents are no longer with us, my 10 year elder sister only just started getting into family history, but she knows absolutely nothing.

I have been working on our family history for years now, but only seriously recently.

Also been trying to put together a family bible, look how useful it was the other night for that Australian guy who found family in the UK, his siblings grandchild had done that book that he handed over with all the family history in it.

A few old photos, but sadly nothing written or any certificates!

Pictures with Grandad!
No name, who's grandad ?
I have put names and dates on the back of all mine, any on the computer I have also identified with name and date.