Recording family history is important for it means that you will never take anything of your family for granted. So many of us think tomorrow we can talk to Aunt Jenny or tomorrow we can write something down or tell someone something. Sometimes tomorrows don’t come.Gathering your family history does not have to be a chore. It can be a lot of fun and it can happen just about at any time. It is important that you are prepared if the opportunity arises. Never let chances pass up for recording family history.A lot of people think that you have to plan times for recording family history. This is not exactly true, of course there are times you will need to do some planning in order to get the information you want, but not always. You can take ordinary times and make them recording family history time. Just be prepared and by this I mean keep a few things within easy reach and ready to be used.A little pre-planning allows you to be ready when those times come up that you could be recording family history. The best way to do this is to make your self a little kit. Call it your genealogy kit, or my recording family history kit. You can keep it in your car or make sure to put it in your car when you are out visiting relatives. You can keep it organized in a box or suitcase. It should contain the following:The following equipment can be held in a small storage container and will fit in even a small suitcase.o Pens, pencils, colored pencils for charts
o Any photographs you might have that might jar someone’s memory or you need identified
o A camera
o Zipper folder
o Tape Recorder
o Pedigree charts
o Lap top computerThe kit you make for recording family history can be filled with whatever you will use. Whatever you are comfortable with and know how to use. So make sure that you are familiar with any equipment you plan to use, as there is nothing more frustrating than fiddling around with equipment when the time is passing by and do not forget the batteries.The key to recording family history is to do it in small manageable pieces and to keep track of the information that you gather. The pedigree charts are wonderful for this. This chart gives you a starting point and if you ever come to a stop or can’t find more information, then this is a great thing to give to a genealogist to research from that point. You simply fill in the spaces of what you do know, this should include the following:o First name
o Middle name
o Last name
o Maiden name
o Married name
o Date of birth
o Date of death
o Place of birth
o Place of death
o Marriage date
o Marriage placeNow is the time to put your recording family history thinking cap on. Who is the person or persons in your family that seem to know the most of your history? We all have one or two Aunts or Granny’s that just seem to remember every detail. So when you pick the name/names write them a letter or send an email and tell them what you are doing. You can either set up an appointment or get them to write out something and send it to you. You could even if you felt comfortable, do a phone interview.Recording family history from relatives is a great start for the foundation of deeper genealogy research. With this information you easily gather more and more. Don’t be shy if you run across an old relative, take the time to ask them about the history of your family. You might be surprised at what they know and can tell you.