The Genealogist

Tips for Passing Along Family Values

By Glenda Logan-Glover

According to a groundbreaking study by the Allianz American Legacies Study, a true legacy is a combination of both emotional and financial components. Seventy-seven percent of Baby Boomers say it is important to receive values and life lessons from their parents and as a group prefer to preserve their parent\’s memories rather than receive a financial inheritance.

Legacy building is becoming increasingly popular as people show more interest in transferring values and non-financial assets from generation to generation. Preserving life\’s stories is especially important in light of recent events that point out the reality of life\’s fragility.

According to the study, although both Baby Boomers and seniors say they are comfortable in discussing legacy and inheritance, they do not typically discuss preserving all aspects of their legacy including values and life lessons. In light of that legacy gap, more efforts are being made in making sure that important personal information is saved for the future. Ethical Wills are becoming increasingly popular as a way to write down hopes, dreams and wishes for the next generation.

Intergenerational participants in the Allianz Study shared freely when the topic moved beyond the financial aspect of death to the best way to leave a legacy. In order to make sure that information is captured, many Baby Boomers may have to personally capture their parent\’s story. Follow these tips to insure that you can extract and preserve information that will document your parent\’s story and family heritage:

1. Preserve your memories forward in time - be aware of changing digital formats. To minimize the risks of losing your memories, perform frequent backups on an external hard drive and double backups on DVD-RAM storage disks. Use acid free products archival products that will stand the test of time.

2. Ask the right questions - move beyond fact based reporting to evoking sensory narrative. Ask open ended questions such as what did you feel like after accomplishing that huge goal in your life? What was your favorite song from that time period? What are/were your dreams for the future?

3. Tell the story - try to keep the original voice of the author and do as little modifications to the narrative as possible

4. Use technology to make it easier - use an Internet site that in addition to letting you upload photos, will let you preserve your memories in different ways including long-term archiving and acid free hard copies.

By taking the necessary steps to preserve your parent\’s legacy you will benefit future generations for years to come.

About The Author

Glenda Logan-Glover, President of Preserving Sentiments, LLC writes and speaks extensively on the importance of preserving your memories and legacy in order to benefit future generations. Preserving Sentiments is designed to capture memories and send them forward in time so that loving ties can be strengthened.

Top Five Myths About Preserving Your Family Memories

By Glenda Logan-Glover

Many of us are diligently taking the family photos but how many of our memories will be sent forward to enrich future generations? Leave a lasting family legacy and debunk the following myths…

1. Your Memories WILL make it across the generations

Although taking pictures has become easier with the advent of digital photography, making sure they are preserved and make it to the next generation isn\’t always so easy.

According to a national Harris Poll survey commissioned by PicturesMatter, 61% of digital camera owners said they had lost digital images in numerous ways due to computer problems, deletion from a camera or computer or because of lost or stolen hardware. To minimize your risks, frequent backups on an external hard drive and double backups on DVD-RAM storage disks are necessary.

Despite these precautions, however, there are a lot of questions concerning long-term digital preservation and the best way to preserve digital information is still being explored.

2. Pictures are worth a 1,000 words

Not if you rely on oral history alone to tell the story. How many times have you looked at an old photo and didn\’t know who the people were or even the occasion?

Details keep memories alive in our minds and sensory information transports us to a special time. Recalling the celebratory noise at a graduation, the feel of our child\’s tiny hand in ours or the warmth of a shared sunset keeps the event fresh in our minds as the years go by.

Written, descriptive narrative should accompany photos in order to increase the chance of memory recall and the likelihood that the people and events in our lives will be adequately remembered.

3. You are the only one with a shoebox full of memories

Almost everyone has a shoebox full of memories from photos passed down or from the time before they switched to digital technology. However, the key is finding something meaningful to do with the images before they suffer the ravages of time. By transferring them to a digital format using a scanning service, you can them start to use online tools and create keepsake items to preserve for posterity.

4. Memories are static snapshots in time

Memories can be dynamic communications from one generation to the next provided they are properly preserved.

Using online mediums can give you the opportunity to go beyond a traditional photo album and take advantage of various computer applications, templates and programs to create a treasure that is uniquely yours. Family history especially can come alive and be passed on in a way that is informative, engaging and personal.

5. Your descendents will know who you are years from now

In our hectic lives, it\’s easy to put off preserving our legacy until we have time, but unfortunately unless we do, our story may go untold. Future generations can benefit from the path we\’ve walked and the life lessons we\’ve learned.

Memories are more than just snapshots in time; they are the special times and unique stories we alone have to tell. Preserve them now and make sure they make it to the next generation. Years from now, they can give your descendents information on who they are and who they can become.

About The Author

Glenda Logan-Glover, President of Preserving Sentiments, LLC writes and speaks extensively on the importance of preserving your memories and legacy to benefit future generations. Preserving Sentiments captures memories and sends them forward in time so that loving ties can be strengthened.

Which Family Genealogy Records To Use

By Jim Brown

Some people become quite bewildered when they realize how much information can be found for the history of their family name. The decisions made on which family genealogy records to use will have a dramatic effect on the quality of the information that is contained in the family history when it is considered to be finished. Family histories are never complete, however, because there is always a new addition to the family.

In determining which family genealogy records to use, it is only natural to assume that government records would always contain information that is factual and to the point. So people naturally start their quest of completing a factual family history by getting copies of birth certificates and finish off with a full accounting of every death certificate on file at the local courthouse.

The decisions made on which family genealogy records to use could be extended to records for fishing licenses, and those for the payment of property taxes. Some families might be surprised to learn that they are due a refund on property taxes that were overpaid by a member of their family many years ago. The family might also learn from their research that the property is still listed in the family name.

Many families have designated a certain cemetery that all members of the family should be buried in. In deciding which family genealogy records to use in constructing a family history, some research should be done at every cemetery in town to make sure that some long forgotten family members are placed on the family tree. The burial records for everyone with the family name should be reviewed so that nobody is forgotten in the quest for knowledge.

Other family genealogy records to use in constructing a family history can be found at churches. The church is required by Law to keep a record of every marriage and many keep a record of baptisms. Many religions keep records of professions of faith and letters that transfer family membership from one church to another. Although they are not considered to be legal records, they are church records that should not be ignored because some of the family member names might not be on the list for your family tree.

The Last Will and Testament of family members could provide good leads on completing the family tree. In deciding which family genealogy records to use, a family member might have to sidestep feelings of guilt and remorse, and finally recognize illegitimate children that have a place on the family tree even if they have never met members of the family.

The Last Will and Testament is the final opportunity that a person has to clear their conscience and what they write might tear some families apart. It may draw families closer together too so in determining which family genealogy records to use, it is usually a good idea to use all of the information that is obtained in some small way. Keeping track of the accomplishments that family members achieve during a lifetime might may for interesting conversation at family reunions.

About The Author

James Brown writes about My Wedding Favors discounts, Name Change Kit coupon codes and The Occasions Group promo code