Preserving Memories: Seasonal Schemes, Lace Settings and More

IT’S STORY TIME

Don’t wait until you’re “finished” with your genealogy to gather all those pedigree charts, census photocopies, marriage certificates and photos into a comprehensive family history book. You know as well as we do that you’ll never be finished. Start organizing your family history now with these tips from Moira Connor, who founded Families Forever Publishing to help clients tell their families’ stories:

“Organize the material into chronological order first, then into subgroups that make sense to you — and most important, to your audience,” Connor advises. Your subgroups might be family branches, geographic locations or major events such as births, marriages and deaths.

To clarify family lineages, start each section of your book with the pedigree chart of the most relevant person in that chapter. End the section with a family group sheet showing the ancestor, spouse and children. “This pedigree chart is repeated throughout the book, with each chapter adding generations. It’s a great way to help the reader gradually absorb all the information in the chart,” Connor says. “The start of the chapter shows from whence they came and the end shows where their bloodline is going.”

Each chapter contains text that tells your family’s story in words, along with photos and supporting documents from your research. Connor suggests a direct approach for handling missing information. “Use a simple statement such as ‘oral family history suggests that — and additional research is underway to substantiate it.’”

Context is important. “Preparing a family history without the historical context would be like describing a baseball game with just box scores rather than a play-by-play,” says Connor. “How an ancestor hornesteaded on the prairies — how he built the first sod house and the difficulties the family experienced — is not only interesting, but adds a truly human element to the facts.” Contact Families Forever Publishing at (206) 328-5971.

SEASONAL SCHEMES

Holiday photos of children are among the most fun to scrap, but somehow Santas and snowmen don’t seem right for decorating old-fashioned black-and-white photos. Instead, use color schemes, such as the emerald and burgundy on this page by Paige Eliason, to convey the holiday theme (gold-blue and silver-pink schemes also work well). Then decorate the page with elegant touches. This intricate photo mat, created with punches from Emagination Crafts <www.emaginationcrafts.com> and The Punch Bunch <www.thepunchbunch.com>, contributes to the layout’s timeless look. For more heritage-page ideas that incorporate innovative punch-art techniques, see Eliason’s latest book, Punch Crazy, volume 3 (PK Possibilities).

LACE SETTINGS

Old-fashioned photos look right at home with Simply Scherenschnitte frames from Accu/Cut Systems. Use the intricate laser-cut parchment frames straight from the package or add color with markers, chalk or ink. The acid-free frames are available in 11 8×l0-inch designs and six 5×7-inch designs. View all the patterns at <www.accucut.com/jangle>.

PICTURING THE PAST

A wooden bobbin, a metal roller skate, a hand-stitched quilt — images like these symbolize times past for many of us. Provo Craft has made these and other old-fashioned objects scrapbook-ready on its Remember When CD-ROM. The $19.95 CD, which can be used on a PC or Mac, includes more than 150 images, three fonts and easy instructions. Visit <www.pchugware.com>.

ELEMENTS OF ELEGANCE

K&Co. offers lots of ways for you to beautifully display precious family photos. One of our favorites is the Frame-a-Name system: Use decorated mats, frames and letter stickers to create a framed “pedgree” with your photos and family name. We also love K&Co.’s Antiquity and Toscane scrapbooking papers and vellums — the warm earth tones and elegant embossed designs are perfect for heritage photos. Check out these and other K&Co. products at your local scrapbooking store, <www.kandcompany.com> or call (888) 244-2083.

DISAPPEARING ACT

Q. I have an old family tree handwritten in fountain pen. The ink is fading. I have recorded the information from the tree. My elder relatives tell me to let the handwriting naturally fade away! I don’t want to let that happen. What’s your advice as to having someone go over the handwriting?

A. Your question highlights a preservation issue of some disagreement — allow time to take its natural toll, or use modern techniques to alter an old document? A professional conservator can fully explain your options and help you decide what to do. For referrals, contact your local historical society or the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Work (202-452-9545, <aic.stanford.edu>).

Our experts’ responses to your question reflect preservationists’ varied viewpoints. Maureen Taylor, author of Preserving Your Family Photographs (Betterway Books), suggests having a conservator deacidify the document and enhance the handwriting with ink. Be prepared: the process may be expensive and will take some time.

On the other hand, Caring for Your Family Treasures (Heritage Preservation) co-author Jane Long says, “Your relatives know best!” She recommends having the document professionally photocopied or photographed onto acid-free paper to create a realistic copy to frame and admire. (This is a good idea whether or not you decide to alter the original.) “Then safely store the original away from light sources to prolong the life of both paper and ink,” Long advises.

Museum-quality acid-and lignin-free boxes and encapsulation (see our April 2001 issue) are good storage options. For supplies, try University Products (800-762-1165, <www.universityproducts.com>) or Archival Products (800-526-5640, <www.archival.com>).

From the December 2001 issue of Family Tree Magazine