To read or not to read? How to handle a deceased family member’s personal letters

Discovering a stack of handwritten letters can feel like winning the family history lottery—but is it always the right thing to read (or share) them?

dawn's musings, family history, remember lost loved onesDawn M. RoodeMay 27, 2024is reading my ancestor's letters an invasion of privacy, is it wrong to read letters from someone who died, should i read someone else's personal letters, are letters always valuable for family history Comments

4 Unique family history finds from RootsTech 2024

From a conference hall filled with more than 150 family history vendors, I have hand-picked my favorites—here’s why you’ll love them, too.

family historyDawn M. RoodeApril 1, 2024rootstech 2024 faily history vendor roundup, the best family history services found at rootstech 2024, family history recommendations for travel and designComment

Are you weighed down by the stuff of your family’s memories?

Boxes of old letters, family photos, and mementos from a generation ago can feel like a burden if they’re passed down without context. What to do with them.

family history, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeMarch 25, 2024what to do with box of family memories, i don't want my parents stuff, what to do with heirlooms and old letters, who is the custodian of your family history archive, stories of our stuff, family heirloomsComment

All your Write Your Life questions answered

Wondering if 52 weeks of memory prompts will help YOU write about your life at last? Here, answers to the most commonly asked questions about Write Your Life.

memoir & writing, family historyDawn M. RoodeDecember 5, 2023FAQ about memory promps subscription Write Your Life, answers to questions about Write Your Life annual subscription, a year of remembering - how hard is itComment

A year’s worth of memory prompts to help you write your life

Every week you’ll get themed prompts to stir your memories, tips to write your stories with ease, and more! A unique gift for your loved one (or yourself)!

family history, gift ideas, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeNovember 25, 2023a year of family history writing prompts, email subscription with memory and writing prompts, write your life with this annual gift subscription, best family history gift ideaComment

The index card solution to family history preservation

Want to organize your family history archive? This cheap, convenient solution is a great way to record your stories until you’re ready to move them into a book.

family history, food memoriesDawn M. RoodeOctober 11, 2023using index cards to record my family history, when to use recipe cards for family history research, easy way to organize my family archiveComment

One phone call at a time: Family history in disguise

No interest in family history? What if I told you there would be no research involved, no libraries, no family trees—just spoken stories? From mom, from dad?

family historyDawn M. RoodeSeptember 11, 2023oral history interviews over the phone, family history ideas for regular people, how to get my parents stories, family history interviews over the phoneComment

How to edit your family history so it will make sense 20 years from now

Ready to edit your family history or life story book? Follow these three tips from a personal historian to ensure everything is clear for your descendants.

memoir & writing, family historyDawn M. RoodeJuly 31, 2023how to edit my family history, making my family history interesting and easy to read, tips for making a family history bookComment