How to Get Relatives Interested in Family History – Episode 11 (Elevenses with Lisa)

by Lisa Cooke | Jun 5, 2020 | 01 What's New, Craft & Displays, DIY Family History, Elevenses with Lisa | 11 comments

Live show air date: June 4, 2020

Episode 11 Video and Show Notes

Join me for Elevenses with Lisa, the online video series where we take a break, visit and learn.

Today’s Teacup

Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. The movie Pride and Prejudice (2005) was filmed there. In my cup: Blueberry Merlot by Tea Forte Herbal Retreat. You can get it here at Amazon (This is an affiliate link, so if you make a purchase we will be compensated at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this free show!)

How to Get Relatives Interested in Family History

For me Family and faith have always been the answer for life’s challenges and turmoil. In this hour together we will recharge and look at ways to positively influence our family, now and in the future.

Preparing Your Relatives Now

Focus on ways to make the results of your research understandable by non-genealogists and create those items now. Make it a priority to share your findings in creative and simple ways as you go to help relatives understand the value of your research to you and them. You will have much more success down the road if you help build understanding today.

Sharing Ideas

Christmas Wreath and Crazy Quilt Christmas Stocking

Click here for the Genealogy Gems playlist that includes the 4 part instructional series on making these family history wreaths.

Crazy quilt a stocking and add transferred photos of your ancestors using T-shirt transfer paper.

Crazy quilt a stocking and add transferred photos of your ancestors.

Repurpose or upcycle items you already have

I turned an unfinished crocheted heirloom tablecloth into a vest for my daughter.

I upcycled an old unfinished crocheted tablecloth into a vest

Genealogy Wall Charts

You can order genealogy wall charts through websites such as MyHeritage or Ancestry.

Here’s a free fan chart from FamilySearch. 

See all your options by Googling genealogy wall charts.

Embellished Picture Frames

Decorate an old picture frame with items reflecting the life of your ancestor featured in the photo.

Embellish an old photo frame with vintage items that help tell the story of your ancestor.

Family History Wall Art

Make wall art like the matte canvas photo I made in episode 6 of Elevenses with Lisa. The show notes for that episode includes details. 

Posters from Family Photos

Get posters made of significant photos from the past. I ordered mine from Vista Print. If you sign up for a service’s newsletter you’ll likely get notification of sales and discount coupons. Poster frames can be ordered online through Amazon and stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.

Celebrate the history of your family members!

Tabletop Family Story Displays

I took an old locker and filled it with items reflecting my husband’s story. You could also use a small cabinet, crate, basket, etc.

Coffee Table Books that Tell Your Family’s Story

• www.shutterfly.com (where I made my books)
• Lulu Press
• MyCanvas (Ancestry)

In episode 206 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast I talk about how I made the book about my grandmother’s 50-year nursing career. 

Genealogy Gems Premium Members can listen to the Premium Podcast Episodes 52-54 which feature a 3-part series on publishing your family history.

Create short books that tell a single family history story.

Google Earth “Family History Tour”

Back in 2009 I pioneered a use for the free Google Earth program called “Family History Tours”. These tours take a little time but are fairly easy to create, and they make a big impact. You can download Google Earth Pro for free here. Then, watch my video below for a closer look at family history tours in Google Earth. 

Resources for learning how to create family history tours:

• Google Earth for Genealogy step-by-step tutorial video series by Lisa Louise Cooke.
• The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox (book)

Both available at the Genealogy Gems Store here. 

Over 2 1/2 hours of easy-to-follow instructions by Lisa Louise Cooke.

Get More Ideas at Pinterest

Check out my genealogy Pinterest boards here.  

Follow me on Pinterest.

Family History Blog

Sharing your family history information on a blog gives you an easy way to cross-post on social media as well as be found by others how are Googling to find information on the same family lines.

Start a free blog at www.blogger.com. Watch my free instructional video series on how to set up your free blog at the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel.

Turn Family History Photos into Eye-Catching Memes

I use the Retype app. (About $2.99) 

Other free alternatives include apps like Adobe Spark Post or Over.

Add text to photos, customize the font and text color, and save. An easy way to access old family photos on your smartphone or tablet is to save copies of the photos to a free cloud service on your computer. Then open that app on your phone. Select a photo and save it to your device. Once the photo is in your Photos app, you can then open Retype and import that photo. Add text, font, color and more. 

Get more complete instructions and other mobile computing ideas like this from the book Mobile Genealogy: How to Use Your Smartphone or Tablet for Family History.

Apps can turn family history photos into social media image that generate conversation.

Create a Video that Tells a Story

It’s easier than ever to create videos, and no special skills are required. Video is the #1 type of content on the Web and with the next generation. Get instructions and ideas here at Genealogy Gems. 

I trust all of my old home movies (8mm, VHS, mini DV, High-8, etc.) conversion and digitization to Larsen Digital. They do spectacular work! Click here for exclusive special discounts for Elevenses with Lisa fans!

The video below features one of my grandmother’s old home movies that Larsen Digital converted for me. And boy oh boy was I excited by what I discovered!

From You

Elevenses with Lisa viewer Jillian T. shared how she is bringing family history into her home office:

“I have tried to tune in each week to your Genealogy Gems ‘Elevenses’ (which is 5 pm here in Ireland and therefore a perfect end to my workday).  A few weeks ago, you shared how you found the photo of your husbands ancestors and through newspapers found out more about the musical troupe. You organized to have the photo printed on canvas and the finished project was wonderful.

I have always wishing to do a ‘family tree’ on the wall of my office but was afraid it would end up looking like an arts and crafts project. You gave me the kick I needed and decided, if not now, when?

So, I measured up the wall, researched and trawled through my vast collection of photos. I was very conscious that I have better historic photos on my ‘dads’ side with thanks to a wonderful elderly cousin who shares my passion. But as a genealogist, I wished to ensure I had balance and so decided only three photos from each ‘side’. I found a decal that was a good price (about $20) and the perfect size for my wall. I organised for the photos to be printed and mounted on canvas (more expensive but knew if the project didn’t work, I could find another use for the mounted photos).  

It took a few weeks for everything to arrive, as you will see in the attached, I did the base of the tree first – we called it the haunted tree as we had to wait another week for the photos to arrive. Then we took time deciding on the placing of the photos and then added the leaves.

I am writing to say a huge thank you. I will have this lovely project to remind me of this time, and as I sit here and type, it is lovely to know my family ‘has my back’.  

Thank you for your initiative of the weekly meet up. Your energy and enthusiasm are infectious. I met you at RootsTech in 2016 and have continued to follow you since. Thank you for all you do and to you and your family, let me share an old Irish blessing “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields.

Warmest wishes, Stay smart, Jillian”

Jillian’s ancestors “have her bacK” in her office!

Gayle P. shares some of the ways she protects her family history from destruction.  

“I have organized many things into books.  My living room is my grandma’s family history room and some of my grandchildren love to look through things. However, when I ask if they would be interested in having certain books, they ask me, “Grama, why don’t you scan it and give me a flash drive or CD.”  I decided to give memory flash drives for Christmas presents.  I feel relieved that I have several backups.   

 For example, while my son was serving a two-year mission in Germany, 1990-1992, he wrote faithfully every week.  30 years later, he is now working for the Air Force in Germany close to where he served his mission.

I scanned his letters and pictures he sent to me, organized them in books and sent them to him.  His children enjoy the scanned version of his memoirs.  He plans on revisiting many of the areas where he served 30 years ago.  He wrote four simple words that brought many tears:  “Mom, thank you forever.”

Another example is I have scanned and organized my pictures by years and share many of these years with my family.  Over Memorial Day, my daughter-in-law was in a panic because she could not retrieve her 2012 pictures.  She called and asked if I could share my 2012 pictures.  Within a short time, I was able to scan about 5000 pictures I had for that year and share with her.  I had many, many pictures of her daughter and her family.  Another “thank you forever” brought tears to my eyes.  

I currently have over 500,000 pictures/documents scanned and have three personal backups.   I am still have a lot to scan and probably will not get everything scanned before I die, but I am sharing what I have now so I know that some of my family will have a copy of my most treasured work and memories. 

Scanning and sharing a ton in Idaho, Gayle”

Now there’s a woman who doesn’t need a “round tuit”, and who is definitely a positive influence on her family!

Cathy G wrote a comment to ask about the templates I use for my notebook covers and spines. 

“Wonderful shows – really enjoying the elevenses. Such good information always. Especially enjoyed the ones on organizing paper and hard drive database. More please. One quick question: you mentioned printing your own binder covers and spines – can’t find a template in my Word program. Can you direct us to the one you use? Thanks.”

I’m happy to share my simple yet effective templates for the covers and spines on my notebooks. Genealogy Gems Premium members can now download these from the Resources section of the Elevenses with Lisa episode 6 show notes.

Gayle has been hard at work creating family history notebooks.

Watch My Free Presentation

Watch my free Facebook Live presentation of Fabulous Photo Discoveries at MyHeritage.

It’s all about finding and colorizing your old family photos. The video replay is available here at the MyHeritage Facebook page. 

Final Thoughts on Passing on Our Genealogy

I hope you enjoyed the ideas presented in this episode, and that you take action on at least one of them. It may be just what your relatives need to see the family history clearer.

That being said, even if no one else in your family cares right now or wants your genealogy, It’s ok. We’ve done all we can and the rest is out of our control.

If genealogy  has brought You joy, sharpened your mind, given you countless hours of amusement, connection, and satisfaction, then it’s all been worth it! No one can take that away from you.

And the way I look at it, when we get to heaven we’ll know a lot more people!

Next Episode of Elevenses with Lisa

Episode 12 will air Live on June 18, 2020 at the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel. After the live show, the episode will be available as a video. Show notes will be published on June 19. 

Click the video above to Set your reminder for episode 12, or click here. Please be sure to click our channel’s Subscribe button while you’re there. Then click the Notifications bell to so you’ll know when we post new videos and episodes. 

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Stay smart and stay brave! Thanks so much for watching friend. I’ll talk to you soon.

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Resources (Premium Members): 

Click here to download the show notes PDF for this episode. (Log in required.)