6/9/2011
By Leslie Albrecht Huber
Instead of a ho-hum handwritten timeline, one of these tools can help you create a snazzy snapshot of family memories.
Wondering how your ancestors’ lives fit into history?
Want to see a quick overview of Great-grandma’s life—and check that the dates and places make sense?
Make a timeline. Instead of a ho-hum handwritten or typed list, you can now use online timeline generators to create a snazzier snapshot of family milestones.
All the websites here allow you to enter in events and share the resulting timeline in some way; we’ve also highlighted unique features genealogists could put to use. Take some time to explore these tools, and start linking together your ancestors’ stories.
| Website |
Cost |
Content |
Other Features
|
Access |
Timeglider
|
free; option to upgrade to a “plus” version for a monthly fee
|
Add information, web links and images. Later, you’ll be able to import events from other
websites.
|
Select icons for events, visually categorizing them. Assign a level of importance to zoom in or out without clutter.
|
A unique URL allows friends to view (but not edit) your timeline while keeping it hidden from others.
|
Lifeblob
|
free
|
Upload photos or videos, enter information or import it from websites, blogs, and social networking services.
|
If you designate others as participants, shared events automatically show up on their timelines, too.
|
You control access. Friends you designate can post shared events on your timeline.
|
Arcalife
|
500MB storage free; add storage for $20
to $90
|
Enter or upload information, documents, photos
and videos.
|
Arcalife also lets you create family trees, personal histories and more with your data.
|
Choose the level of access (private, public, or friends and family). Invite relatives to create a family community.
|
Dipity
|
free
|
Enter information, upload photos, or link in videos.
|
Switch views to see your timeline in map, list and “flipbook” format. |
Control who sees or edits your timeline. You also can create friend networks.
|
xTimeline
|
free |
Enter or upload information, sources, photos or videos.
|
Others can comment on your timeline, and you can comment on other timelines. |
Choose whether the timeline is public or private as well as who can edit or comment on it. |
Our Timelines
|
free
|
Type in family information, then choose the appropriate category for each event.
|
The site automatically fills in significant historical events on your timeline.
|
Our Timelines doesn’t archive your timeline, but you can print it out or copy the source code to post on your website. |
From the January 2010 Family Tree Magazine