Introduction
People honor their ancestry in different ways, one of which is to carry out a family heritage project.
This can range from writing the history of an ancestor to making recipe collections, heritage albums or a collection of family traditions and their origins.
This information is passed down to younger generations and helps in rekindling relationships among long distant relatives.
How to create a family heritage project
Research
Your research process will be determined by the scope of your work, the theme of the book, potential audience, and the types of materials you have to work with. Is there a particular ancestor you place at the center of this book?
Besides seeking accounts of the daily lives of your ancestors, read social histories to learn what life was like during their lifetime. Interview all of your living relatives and relevant friends, associate or community members to add a personal touch to your work. Ask your parents, grandparents and other relatives for their photo albums so you can seek out the photos to include.
Start Writing
Set realistic deadlines and do everything you must to meet them. Be honest; don’t try to over exaggerate things or minimize their impact. Avoid fabricating fictional accounts of events. Use footnotes or endnotes to document the sources of your information.
Moreso, do not bore the reader with too much information, only add the parts of your ancestor’s life that aligns with your central theme. Include maps, journal entries, letters, artworks, newspaper articles or certificates.
Review and Edit Your Work
After finishing your writing, seek out a friend or family member to provide feedback and review your work. This is when you determine the appearance of your work.
Backup and Publish
Uploading your work to the cloud is crucial for protecting it from loss and making it easy to share with family members, no matter the distance. You may publish your work to others on a public website or any other social media platform you use.
