|
| The old Boy Scout motto "Be prepared" is one of
the most important aspects when visiting relatives to trace the family tree. Be prepared when you go out on any excursion. It also could help to carry an emergency family history package any time you leave home – you just never know when or where you will come across people and information related to your family. If you go out for a photo session at the cemetery of your great grandparents 100 miles from your home, you want to make sure you have extra film, pen and paper, the map of how to get there, phone numbers and addresses of relatives in that area. Some other items of use when visiting a cemetery could be: a long bladed jack knife for poking in the ground to look for "time buried" head or foot stones, tracing chalk if you plan to trace the inscription from the headstone onto paper, a video camera helps by scanning the cemetery to help you (or someone in the future) find the headstone again, a video camera can be used to give a "moving picture show" for your family history (as compared to still pictures). When you go out to a specific family member or family event, the following items would be good to take along: Your family history to date, any pictures you have gathered and especially the pictures that you need help in identifying, a camera to take pictures ( or/and a videotape), a tape recorder to record the conversation (when family members feel comfortable with the idea), pen, pencil and paper, numerous blank family charts, extra money (photocopying, extra film, lunch out with Aunt Myrtle, etc.), a sense of humour, your "detective" spirit, and most important a sense of respect for your elderly family members. There is something magical about holding onto a memento from 50, 100 or 150 years ago. |
Back to Family History Page