family tree scrapbooking
Family Tree Scrapbooking
When you put time and effort into doing something like researching your family tree and collecting important documents, you want a way to show it off. Most people choose to turn to scrapbooking.
By putting all of those important pieces of history into a scrapbook you are giving all of those who are interested in your research a safe way to flip through and see your work. All of your hard work will be protected from being ruined or lost, and its an easy way to share your family history with others.
Pick A Scrapbook
Starting a scrapbook of your family tree is just like starting a scrapbook on any other topic. First, pick a scrapbook that is going to be sturdy and large enough to contain the amount of information that you plan to put into it. Some scrapbooks allow you to easily add pages later.
This is a nice feature with a family tree scrapbook because years later your relatives can add to the book that you started. Plus, if you ever find any other information that dates back further than the information you have previously collected, with easily removable pages, you can add the information to your scrapbook.
Just like with photo albums or other scrapbooks, you will usually start with the oldest pictures or documents first.
Layout and Organize
Before you start you need to figure out the layout of the pages in your scrapbook. Organize the documents, pictures, awards and anything else you are planning to include in your scrapbook. The first page can be the oldest documents you have that contain the information of the oldest generation (this is a pretty standard method).
If you are going to start with your great grandparents, create a layout that contains any pictures of them, birth or death certificates, military records, etc. Make sure that you label each piece of information and be sure to include full names, dates, and places they may have lived.
Collect Stories
One of the wonderful things about researching your family tree is the chance to talk to your relatives and discover the interesting facts and stories about your family history. One easy method to use which will really help you out is to follow a questionnaire when you interview your family members.
Asking the same types of questions to each person will help you out as an interviewer to collect the stories which will be treasured years later. So how do you take those word of mouth stories and include them in your family history scrapbook?
Word of mouth stories may not have any source documents to use as historical evidence to support them. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t include these treasured stories into your scrapbook! In fact, these stories may prove to be the most popular part of your scrapbook – so make sure you include them! Simply write or print out the story told to you and add it to your layout.
Put Your Scrapbook In Order
The order of the pages in your scrapbook are truly up to you to decide. Put the pages in any order that makes sense to you.
If you start with your great grandparents on your mother’s side, you might want to continue with that side of the family; their children and so on down to your mother. Then you might want to start on your father’s side with the documents and photos that go back the furthest.
On the other hand, you might want to create a layout that is chronologically accurate and contains both families at once. You are only limited by your creativity, so go for it and get started!
Your Scrapbook: A Keepsake For Generations
There are a few important tips you should follow when creating a family tree scrapbook.
- Devote each page of the scrapbook to either a couple or to one person at a time.
- Make sure that the names and dates are clearly visible.
- Remember to tell a story!
- Don’t give up! Take the time to complete this project. It is a keepsake that will last for generations.
Enter your first name and email address in the box below, then click on “Get Instant Access”. You can begin your family history project right now!
