Family History Helps Heal - Genealogy With Computers

Knowing where we came from will guide us to where we need to go, which is especially helpful these days. At no other time in history has there been a greater need to focus on our heritage. Modern life and social relations are fragmented by mobility and fast-paced lives. Many of us no longer live where we were born. But we can still branch out roots into the collective soil that nourishes us. Computer programs, scanners and cameras can help us heal.

Online Family Trees Help Grow Roots

It's easy to become wrapped up in the day-to-day of life, and to forget the joys of sharing with others: the first smiles, the first baby steps, the first boyfriend, the walk down the aisle. Gather together all your facts and stories, pictures and movies, and put them on a free website, such as My Heritage. Then you can share them with relatives, friends, anyone or everyone.

Grow Your Own Family Tree

Start with genealogical charts, lists and other documents containing information about all the people, places and dates associated with your tree. Don't forget that other people may have already done some of the work for you. Search the internet for genealogical sites and files (i.e. GEDCOM's) that you can download for free.

Inputting genealogical information requires not only speed and accuracy but also a familiarity with the specific program being used. Mistakes can be made with regards to privacy settings, and the results can be embarrassing to say the least. Correlating the facts on a tree, and getting the places and dates recorded correctly is definitely a challenge. If your time is better spent doing other things then why not hire a professional?

Computers, Scanners and Cameras

Is your life well recorded, and that of your family? Take time to capture the best of the present for future generations. We all love to take pictures of our children, but let us not forget the elderly. Use a video camera to record a grandparent talking about their life. I assure you such memorabilia will be treasured by many in years to come.

Get all your photos together, scan them, and then start labeling and dating the best. The sooner the better, if your old family photographs are deteriorating. You might not be able to do them all right away, so try to at least get one good picture to use for the profile image for every member of your family. This will really leaf out your tree and make it easier to maintain. If a priceless picture is in very bad condition you many need professional restoration (avg. rate is $25 per photo). A great looking photo of an ancestor helps bring the memory alive. A tip for those who use flatbed scanners: wipe the plate glass constantly as old photos are surprisingly dirty. Be extremely carefully trying to clean old photos. Use cotton gloves and special cleaners.

Genealogy Generates Family Connections

Last year while building my family tree website my searches found a second cousin, a grand-daughter to my mother's father's sister. My mom either did not know about this family branch or, more likely, she had forgotten. Anyway, I contacted this cousin and she sent me a lot of new genealogical information. We also exchanged many family photos. Try growing your own family tree. You might be surprised by the results!