The holidays are a nostalgic time of year. This is the time when we surround ourselves with family and friends, immerse ourselves in family traditions and cultural celebrations, and give gifts to show our love and appreciation. So, what better time could there be to share the gift of family, family history that is? Maybe you were decorating your Christmas tree and found some old handmade ornaments. Or perhaps you dug out your grandma’s recipe book to make a special treat for a holiday gathering. Whatever the reason, we all feel a little more connected to our families this time of year.
It is a wonderful thing to research your family history and learn about your ancestors. However, what do you do with that information once you have it? Sometimes the results of all the hard work that goes into researching your ancestry can be lost on your relatives. As technology replaces more and more of our personal connections, oral histories and family stories are becoming a thing of the past. There are many great ways to make those discoveries more tangible and turn them into a gift that can be passed down for generations to come. At Ancestry & Genealogy Services, LLC. we would be honored to help you preserve your family history this holiday season.
Pedigree charts can be designed with as many generations as you would like to include. Lineage posters can be a fantastic way to illustrate a specific line of the family, perhaps going back to a famous ancestor. Old family photos, newspaper clippings, and records can be digitized and turned into custom books. Another great option is to have all your family history data compiled into a digital family tree, including images of photos and records. This becomes a digital file in a special format (GEDCOM) that can be uploaded into your family tree software or online database.
You may be thinking, “What if I haven’t done any genealogy research?”. Don’t worry. We can definitely help with that, too. It is what we do. There is not a lot of time to get much research completed between now and Christmas but don’t be discouraged. It is never too late to start your family history journey, and it is never too early to get started on next year’s gift list! Contact us to schedule a free consultation today if you want to learn more about our research services. If you are interested in a printed chart or digital family tree, simply email us at andrea@ancestrygs.com or use the contact form on our website to see what we can create for you.
Wishing you and yours the very best holiday season and a happy new year!
~Andrea LaVallee-Maggs, Genealogist