Editor's
Message
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR FAMILY RESEARCH?
This article first appeared in
the November 2001 newsletter, Volume 17 - Number 2
Recently I received an inquiry from a researcher looking
for a family from Stisted Township. I recognized the family name as I
knew that a former member of our group, now deceased, had done a lot of
research on this family. I suggested that his family be contacted. I was
extremely upset to learn that this had already been done and that the
farnily had thrown most of the work in the GARBAGE! What will happen
to the research you have done? Do you know that it will be preserved for,
if not an interested family member, at least for future historians? All
family histories are valuable and a part of our collective heritage. If
you make inquiries about appropriate repositories you will discover that
with few exceptions storage space is at a premium.
If you have an interested family member your work will
be lovingly cared for at least in the short term. If this is not the case
you should make inquiries at your local genealogy group, your local library
or your district archives to determine the status of appropriate accessible
storage for your history. If you are from a prominent family your "family
papers" will likely be accepted at archives but most of us are not
what might be considered prominent! Published family histories will be
accepted at provincial genealogy society libraries and the National Library
in Ottawa. The Church of Later Day Saints in Salt Lake City will be happy
to have your published family history in their library and you may send
your computerized files to them electronically. Rootsweb will accept your
computer files as well as other internet genealogy sites. I can't stress
strongly enough that your work is important, it is not just a hobby that
kept granny and grandpa busy in their declining years! I suggest you include
your wishes for the fate of your history in your will. If nothing else
it will raise a flag for your beneficiaries! Think about it!
We like to hear your comments and suggestions any time.
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