How Do You Preserve Memories?

What a wonderful idea! I had had so many stories told to me over the years by many family members. I wrote them all down in a book as I either remembered them or were told new ones. I divided the book into close family members and then extended family belonging to their branches. I joined local FB family history pages and re-connected with long lost family and we put our stories together. Then, on my computer I wrote up all the notes and added the photos and now have a fabulous huge folder of what and who went before me. As the people come to life you start to see that for example my grandmother lost her mother and brother in 1939 and was also heading into WW2 in the East End. If I put flesh to bone, I realised that 1939 must have been a very hard year for her. I am also at the moment learning a whole new alphabet in an old script so as to be able to translate letters written almost a hundred years ago in Europe. The letters tell me of springtimes long past, the literacy of the author, how they dealt with illness and how they survived WW1 in Europe, and how death seemed to cast a shadow over everything. Very interesting. Basically, just get that nice big note book, check out every available source including Ancestry and ask around the family for long forgotten photos. We are so lucky with technology and the resources it has opened up for us. I now have something to pass on to the next generation of 'our' family. Good luck!

Put them onto Ancestry, there is space on each family members profile to write your memories and place photographs, even if you leave the site they will remain.

You can keep your tree private and only invite members of your family to view it.

Thinking how many things I now wish I'd asked my parents about their families, a few years I wrote my memoirs to age 10 and sent them (online) to my 3 adult DD. Received pretty coolly. No idea whether ever read but with luck still survive on someone's computer.

I don't "preserve" them. They exist in their own time frame it seems to me. I'd love to have known more facts about my family and there are things I should have asked them - but my head is full of the memories which speak to me - and my children will have their own...

My memories are somehow special to me. They are not just instances or "what happened". There may be anecdotes in there too - but memories (that matter) are not facts or occurances but instead seem to me to be something else, something personal and not for others - they are both visceral and ephemeral.

winterwhite - that will be my lot. But maybe one day they will appreciate it…… when they’re old and grey like me . Who knows ?!!!

Tuaim Goodness haven't you been thorough! It must have been amazing to learn all about your family, sounds like there was plenty of sadness, but it seems as though you've found a treasure trove of memories; especially the letters of springtimes long past, how wonderful! You sound very accomplished! Yes, we are very lucky with technology, I'm actually looking at various options as we speak. Although your book idea sounds great, I'd like to find something that captures everything online I think.

Tuaim

What a wonderful idea! I had had so many stories told to me over the years by many family members. I wrote them all down in a book as I either remembered them or were told new ones. I divided the book into close family members and then extended family belonging to their branches. I joined local FB family history pages and re-connected with long lost family and we put our stories together. Then, on my computer I wrote up all the notes and added the photos and now have a fabulous huge folder of what and who went before me. As the people come to life you start to see that for example my grandmother lost her mother and brother in 1939 and was also heading into WW2 in the East End. If I put flesh to bone, I realised that 1939 must have been a very hard year for her. I am also at the moment learning a whole new alphabet in an old script so as to be able to translate letters written almost a hundred years ago in Europe. The letters tell me of springtimes long past, the literacy of the author, how they dealt with illness and how they survived WW1 in Europe, and how death seemed to cast a shadow over everything. Very interesting. Basically, just get that nice big note book, check out every available source including Ancestry and ask around the family for long forgotten photos. We are so lucky with technology and the resources it has opened up for us. I now have something to pass on to the next generation of 'our' family. Good luck!

Goodness haven't you been thorough! It must have been amazing to learn all about your family, sounds like there was plenty of sadness, but it seems as though you've found a treasure trove of memories; especially the letters of springtimes long past, how wonderful! You sound very accomplished! Yes, we are very lucky with technology, I'm actually looking at various options as we speak. Although your book idea sounds great, I'd like to find something that captures everything online I think.

Oopsadaisy1

Put them onto Ancestry, there is space on each family members profile to write your memories and place photographs, even if you leave the site they will remain.

You can keep your tree private and only invite members of your family to view it.

Yes, I've had a play with Ancestry, but I find it a little cumbersome, what do you like about it? Have you ever come across anything one is just able to speak into?

winterwhite

Thinking how many things I now wish I'd asked my parents about their families, a few years I wrote my memoirs to age 10 and sent them (online) to my 3 adult DD. Received pretty coolly. No idea whether ever read but with luck still survive on someone's computer.

They received them coolly? How so, I'm sure they'll read them.. Have you ever come across anything to record into?

crazyH

winterwhite - that will be my lot. But maybe one day they will appreciate it…… when they’re old and grey like me . Who knows ?!!!

I'm sure they will!!! I am asking about audio because there's something so special about a voice and the uniqueness that comes with it.

I think the more I look into this the more I think there must be a way.. just need to find it.

Daisy Star
'Although your book idea sounds great, I'd like to find something that captures everything online I think.'
Thank you for your very kind words. I also set up a folder with all the info in there which went into the book and have given it to members of the family on SDHC or memory sticks so they can add their own bits. A cousin did the family tree on Ancestry but she branched out with it far and wide whereas I kept it to immediate extended family. You will find your way and what suits you on your journey. Have fun!