Operation: Recovery—Save the Box 12 Step Family History Program
January:
Gather all family history related materials you have access to; napkins and backs of envelopes can be valuable family history documents. For suggestions on what information to look for see:https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Gather_Family_Information OR
Gather the stuff: Find a box and a location; ? One for each family member What kinds of stuff to gather—See links above Gather for living family not just deceased Encourage other family members to gather
February:
Digitize (Scan or photograph) the materials you have gathered;
Upload photos or documentation to your family in Family Tree on FamilySearch.org; for help ask one of your ward family history consultants, a teenager or go to this link: https://familysearch.org/ask/#/memories/
Uploads to FamilySearch.org are backed-up in the Granite Mountain Vaults Connect uploads to every person on Family Tree that they include Title uploads and enter descriptive information. (These are searchable and may fish out a cousin that can give you additional information.) Group uploaded memories into albums Type up personal, individual or family stories and copy and paste them to the “Stories” section of “Memories” on an individual person page Upload audio files to FamilySearch.org; support .mp3 and .m4a files up to 15MB … …
Label photos with date, location or circumstances if known Identify "all" individuals in photos as far as possible Video other family members as they look at a photo album to record the names of the people they identify and record the stories they tell. Try to get access to the album and scan the photos/pages Take current photos and set up an organization system for them; Back-up, BACK-UP, BACK-UP all files Print photos from digital files so your family can more easily view and enjoy them … …
June, July, August:
Take advantage of family reunions and vacations. Identify other relatives who have family photos and information. Make plans to meet with them and make copies/ digitize their information. Arrange to interview relatives about their lives; ask them about family history stories they may know. Record these interviews. (Many sites online have suggestions for conducting interviews and sample questions. One example: https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Riverton_FamilySearch_Library/Family_Story_Room)
More information at: http://www.preservingtime.org/interviews.html; see links in other months for additional helpful information Make a list of possible family to contact Make family history—continue family traditions; schedule family time and activities Record family history-- take photos and record audio and video; write down current stories and special memories … …
September:
Another month for digitizing
See February for additional suggestions
October:
Photograph family treasures in your home; record the stories behind the items, where they came from and/or who they were passed down from.
Video your family talking about the items that mean the most to them and the stories they know about the item or memories it reminds them of Ask questions of other family members to find out where older items came from and what they know about them … …
November:
Take advantage of Thanksgiving and other family times to complete more Interviews
See: June, July, August for additional suggestions Make and record family history—continue family traditions; take photos and record audio and video; write down current stories and special memories … …
December:
Identify your family traditions. Record their origin. Record family stories about these traditions.
Visit locations important to your family (such as homes lived in) and take photographs Find out more information about family traditions from family members you visit during the holidays; Think of questions to ask ahead of your visits Take a Google Maps tour of an area where your family has lived … …
Your birthday month:
Take time to record some of your own stories and identify pictures of yourself. Consider creating a timeline or recording highlights and lowlights of the past year each year on your birthday.
Make sure there are photos of you—especially if you are the family photographer Interview yourself and record (audio or video) some of your memories and stories Write a personal history—focus on the most important events, stories and feelings, not everything that has ever happened to you Start or continue writing in a journal …