Issue 38.11
The best way to preserve your family history or life story is to write and publish it, but there are other options of sharing your memories through memorabilia. I have made a photo collage of my dad’s life that hangs in my office and constantly reminds me of him. I compiled a written history of his life from letters he wrote my mother during their courtship, and interviews I arranged with his siblings and parents. All these relatives are now deceased, but the memories remain for me to share with my children and grandchildren.
Why write your life history or preserve the memorabilia of your parents or your grandparents, etc? It is to make connections, to find your roots, preserve your legacy to understand where you came from, what sacrifices were made that brought your family to this great country where we live. What struggles, challenges and trials did they overcome? How do families support each other? What strengths or character traits do you share with your earlier forefathers?
How does honoring them or at least knowing of them, help you become a better person. How could your posterity benefit from learning of your life? What would you like them to know of your journey here and what life has taught you? What are talents you developed and could share with them? Have you collected any family photos or scrapbooks that can be passed down?
Preserve any family heirlooms or objects, antiques or memorabilia that bring back memories of special ethnic traditions, recipes, and celebrations that are meaningful. All of this can be passed down with a written history published and/or memorabilia shared with your loved ones.
Family history gifts can be photo collections to post on your living room wall, special items of sentimental value displayed, handiwork or hand crafted articles carefully preserved and displayed for family to consider-quilts, tablecloths, pillow cases embroidered, etc., anything that can evoke a memory.
Look around your own home and make a list of your memorabilia. Don’t forget to share these objects with your extended family through donating your histories and copies of historical photos to local museums or libraries to help them preserve their area’s legacy. I have my mom’s school class photo from the early 1920s that I think the Utah State historical Society would like to have. What do you have? NEXT TIME-Appendix Ideas