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Family history

What’s in a name? How your surname can connect you to the past

What's in a name?

What’s in name? Well, a lot if you look at the history and stories behind the estimated 45,000 different surnames (last names) in England. “A name is so important. A surname connects you to your past, to your family. Even

Chris 08/27/2020 Family history No Comments Read more

Artefacts up close

Artefacts up close

As a family historian you will undoubtedly have built up a collection of resources from birth, death and marriage certificates, photos, letters, diaries, newspaper clippings to detailed notes and records of your genealogical research. But amongst your collection, are there

Chris 04/29/202007/15/2020 Family history No Comments Read more

Alternative ways to present your family history – forget the chronological approach

Alternative ways to present your family history

If you are struggling to get started writing your complete family history using the traditional chronological approach then maybe it’s time to look for alternative ways to present your family history. Not many people enjoy reading long and dreary family histories

Chris 09/03/2019 Family history No Comments Read more

Writing a family history? Start with the stories about your own life

Writing a family history? Your story matters

As a family historian you will probably have spent years tracing your family back through many generations to discover more about the lives and times of your ancestors. But have you ever considered how your own life is also part

Chris 07/10/201902/15/2021 Family history No Comments Read more

Nostalgia in a family history narrative – is there a place for it?

Nostalgia in a family history - is there a place for it?

Can you be too nostalgic when writing a family history? Professional historians don’t really do nostalgia and sentiment. It is not their job to interpret history in this way and some criticise family historians for not adopting their own more

Chris 01/14/201901/14/2019 Family history No Comments Read more

Write your family history story by story

Write your family history story by story

Feeling overwhelmed about how to start writing your complete family history? Well, why not make it easier and write your family history story by story. Many family historians, including many who have attended my family history writing workshops, haven’t even

Chris 01/10/201909/23/2019 Family history No Comments Read more

How to start writing your family history step by step

How to start writing your family history step by step

Don’t let your years of family history research go to waste. Stories are so much more engaging and interesting than lists of names and dates etc. so read on to discover how to start writing your family history step by

Chris 09/13/201801/08/2019 Family history No Comments Read more

Family history and social history have close links

Family history and social history

Anyone who has read my blogs or who has met me at workshops or Family History Fairs/Exhibitions will know that I am always keen to talk about the close link between family history and social history. The stories of ancestors

Chris 01/12/201805/29/2018 Family history No Comments Read more

Putting your family history in context

Putting your family history in context

Although researching and writing your family history gives you the opportunity to explore and write about the lives of people you have a personal connection to, there will also be many experiences they shared with their contemporaries. By putting your

Chris 10/25/201705/29/2018 Family history No Comments Read more

Create a timeline to tell your family history stories

Create a timeline

If you are keen to start writing the stories behind your family history research but are still at the lists of names, dates and places stage, then a good way to get organised is to create a timeline. Timelines are not only

Chris 10/23/201705/29/2018 Family history No Comments Read more
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Recent Posts

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  • The oral tradition of storytelling and its role in history
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