How to Create a Family Book
Family books come in all sizes, shapes, and purposes, although keepsake books can use combinations of elements often kept in separate family books. Most families who have one or more keepsake books also need to keep a separate book with such vital information as medical conditions and medications family members take, and emergency phone numbers. Keepsake family books can include photo albums, scrapbooks, journals or memoirs, genealogy or family history books, or family books that incorporate any or all of these separate elements.
Instructions
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Consider how complex or simple you want to make your keepsake book. You can simply use the family Bible, for example, if all you want to do is record such events as births, deaths, and marriages. Or you may choose to use a complex book that contains family photos and souvenirs along with family genealogies and even memoir pages written by different family members.
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Determine the kind of blank book that best suits the style of family book you want to create. For example, if you specifically want a genealogy family history book, you can obtain blank books designed specifically for this purpose. If you want a memoir book, a ruled blank journal book is suitable. Select a photo album or scrapbook for a family book that will have a heavy emphasis on photographs or souvenirs, such as winning ribbons from competitions. Consider the best fit for your particular purpose by choosing a book that combines several of these elements.
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Engage family members in the activity for a book that will incorporate memoir entries from multiple family members. Some family members may have less enthusiasm than others.
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Shop for, and obtain, the type of foundation book most suited to your purpose. Determine, as a family together if possible, the best way to start out your family book, such as with a journal entry about the book's purpose or a current photo of your family. Use a vintage photograph of a previous generation or generations along with a current family photo to give the family book a sense of continuity, possibly with a brief entry from each family member on what starting a family book means to each person.
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Add to your family book as frequently as participating members of the family have a desire to do so. Recognize that the more successful your family book project becomes, the more frequently you will have to obtain a new book in which to keep records of your family development. Choose different books for the next edition of the family book if your needs change.
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Resources
- Photo Credit generations of memories image by LadyInBlack from Fotolia.com
