geneology records.. a worthwhile project to consider

Over the years, I've gathered old family photos and taken notes of "what I remember" as well as other family members, of days gone by. Modern technology has made it easier to assemble genealogical records through the use of scanning-printers.. and portable data-storage.. as opposed to boxes full of photo-albums.. that "might not" be saved after we're gone.

I can't assume that my children and/or "their" children's children will know much about me or our ancestors. Perhaps that won't be important to them.. but I feel that it's somewhat of a "charge".. to try to provide some documentation. There are web-sites such as "Ancestry.com" where we can "join", search and further-document our family history. That's one method.. and it's great; as long as our "living" relatives are aware that there's a record there.

I'm quite lucky to have elder relatives.. and have been assembling data on family history over the last few years on and off.. as far back as can be remembered/documented by them. Old photos have been scanned.. and notes have been taken for many. Places lived, schools attended, jobs/professions held, military service, hobbies/pastimes, health.. etc.

These family records (possibly thousands of photos along with text/word documents) can be stored on a single USB drive.. and given as a gift; compact enough to be kept/stored in a keepsake/jewelry box.. and transferred to more modern media as years progress.

This can be a VERY enjoyable project. Even if you have no surviving kin.. or limited records of their lives.. you can still produce an accurate account of "your" life.. and the chance to tell "your" story of it.

I'll add that this type of project is not "weather-sensitive". It can be worked-on whenever you have some spare time.. or are bored.. and looking for something different to do. It may even spur some contact with folk that you've fallen out of touch with.