Isn’t every month? Many libraries, historical societies, archives, and genealogical societies celebrate Family History Month each October with special events. What are you doing for Family History Month? I urge you to do something this month to honor the importance of family history. Need a few prompts? Here they are:
- Now’s the time to write a short biography of a favorite ancestor. Don’t forget to include the sources of the details you write about. You will probably be starting a task list of more research to do as you compile this biography.
- Schedule a few days this month or parts of days to work on your collection of photos (both in the overstuffed drawer and on your computer).
- Talk to a family member about some aspect of family history. It might be one of the photos you rediscovered or the bio you wrote. Maybe it’s asking a few questions about their memories of a deceased relative.
- Visit at least one courthouse, archive, or genealogy library to do some research or at least learn more about the place.
- Visit at least one subscription and one no charge online genealogy site that you haven’t checked in a while. There may be something new to discover.
- Don’t know what some of the abbreviations are in this post? It’s a good month to learn.
- Read a guidebook. A book printed on paper. A how-to do genealogy guidebook. Make notes on things you want to research as you are reminded of them during the reading.
- What can you do to help others continue to learn about family history? Maybe volunteer to do something for your area genealogical society?
- Take out your calendar or open up the one on your computer
- Add upcoming genealogical meetings, conferences, and seminars to it. Look at SLIG, RootsTech, NGS, NIGR, IGHR, GRIP, FGS, and others
- Look for upcoming webinars to add to it.
- See what your local historical or genealogical society is offering during October. Maybe it’s a lunchtime lecture, a tour, or special class.
Next month I will let you know what I did during Family History Month.
© 2011 – 2014, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.
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