When starting to capture family facts, history and stories, it’s important to start with what you have. Everyone has something—even if you don’t think you do. Our family has an old Bible that belonged to my great grandmother, Nana. It has a blue and white cover that I think she needlepointed herself. In that book she dutifully and beautifully catalogued the family births, marriages, and deaths. She added pressed flowers from family events, and tucked special correspondences inside (like a letter from The White House wishing her a happy 90th birthday”signed” by Ronald Reagan!) 

This was passed down to my grandmother when Nana died and now in my mother’s possession. I recently looked through it and found that events date back to 1933- almost 100 years. It is a cherished heirloom and when I hold it, I feel connected to her knowing that she often opened, read from, collected and wrote in that Bible. 

Take stock and discover what your family has that you can use as a starting point to piece together your family’s story and historical events. A few places to start are:

• Asking/looking who might have family records stashed away somewhere (birth, death, marriage, baptism certificates) 

• Photo albums and memorabilia from grandparents houses- often times one person inherits these and they are boxed up in an attic or basement

• Family heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation

• Any family possessions that might have a story 

Gather, digitize and share, and remember to pause and enjoy the walk back through your family’s history.