I hope we were all inspired by our last class, “Inspiring the Next Generation of Genealogists.” There were a few technical difficulties on the speaker’s end that were out of her control, but we got some great tips for families and for the library. Just a few ideas: holding a scanning party at the library or seasonal themed parties like hand cranking ice cream in summer or a favorite old toy or holiday ornament that brings back family memories, etc. She had lots of ideas for family get togethers like scavenger hunts, storytelling, grandparent interviews, etc. Check out her website, pursuingyourpast.com.

As I was thinking about what to write about today, I wondered: What do you suppose our parents, grandparents, great grandparents would have thought about the information we are finding, the stories we are gathering? If you are lucky and still have them with you, they may be working on family history with you. None of mine are and to my knowledge, none of them did any family history when they were alive. I vaguely remember a family bible. I don’t remember talking to anyone even about their own history. If I had to guess, maybe it was because they didn’t figure they would be able to get information. Where we can turn on a computer and go to all sorts of sites for information, some of them at least, would not have access to that unless someone had really been inspired.

I think this came up in my head because of the last speaker and because I was speaking to a friend over the weekend that is very into history and into mining and rock hunting. I asked him if he had written down any of his stories and he said no. He said his son and grandson had spent time with him recording stories that he had. At least they have that otherwise all that rich “social history” would be lost in the smoke of the campfire of the rock hunting group.

The lesson for me is not to forget to tell my story and to share what I am learning, even if they don’t seem too interested in it now. There may be a time in the future when they or those that come after them pick up our information and are thrilled. It also has crossed my mind that even though my husband is not into family history, perhaps I may work on his family story a bit and get him to continue to write his stories. They are quite colorful as he was a rock n’ roll musician. (Shhhhh, we won’t tell him.) I may have found something interesting. My grandfather’s family lived in the same town as my husband’s grandmother was born and it would have been at about the same time. Wow!

Our class schedule is just about complete for next year. I hope that people sign up for classes often. January brings a class on finding and using city directories and another on a new strategy for those brick walls. In February the author of the book the Occasional Genealogist will share “Essential Shortcuts Every Genealogist Needs” and we will get a virtual tour of the Midwest Genealogy Center and how to use it. Stay tuned and watch the website and your HQRL Newsletter and alerts for more classes for the future from AI to German Resources to Staying Motivated to WikiTree. Lots to learn next year.

Heidi Geise, education@hqrl.com