Working with
the Personal History Editor
to create your family history . . .

Family histories explore the stories of entire families and are often the natural step after the efforts of genealogy research. Family histories can follow the adventures of a family over the course of generations or they can focus on the accomplishments or trials of a single generation.

Preparation of your family history can include

• analyzing your genealogical research,
• organizing of your research and notes,
• proposing a methodology that is appropriate
     to your family's story and goals,
• helping you write a draft presentation,
• editing and helping revise your draft,
• fact-checking and verifying facts,
• introducing pieces of relevant social history
     as desired (to place your stories into a
     historical and societal context for future
     readers), and, finally,
• helping you explore options for publication,
     whether you and your family want focused
     pamphlet-type stories or articles, a Web site,
     a photocopied manuscript, or a professionally
     printed and bound book.

Family histories are usually completed as nonfiction publications, but we have also worked with many authors who decided to flesh out and embellish parts of the information, research additional period details, and add dialog to create historical fiction and “bring history to life.”