How to Preserve Family Memories
Maintaining Family Traditions and Memories for the Next Generation
Mar 17, 2008
Older family members play a major role in maintaining and preserving family traditions and memories. Unfortunately, when senior family members don’t record important family information, younger generations can be forgiven for not understanding what items and traditions are most significant
Keeping Detailed Family Photograph Records
Photographs are one of the most treasured family possessions. Memories of most important family events are preserved in photos, but they must be well organised if they are to be of any value as a record of family history.
Write the date a picture was taken and the names of the important people/locations on the back of the photograph with a suitable pen. Many scrapbooking and camera shops sell pens that will not damage photos. Placing photos into an album with room for comments next to each photograph is ideal. Details to include (where known) are date, location, subject and/or event (wedding, holiday, outing, party etc). It can also be useful to note how people in photographs are connected to the family (neighbour, friend, distant relative etc).
Recording Family Heirlooms
Many objects are significant family heirlooms regardless of their price or appearance. Special books, artworks and craft items can have an emotional importance that far exceeds their monetary value.
Photograph important family heirlooms and place the photos in an album. Write details in the comments section on the album page or on the back of the photo to explain why each item is important. These details could relate to a special event (wedding gifts), items made by family members (quilts, pottery, artwork, woodwork items) or simply furniture, cookbooks or other practical items that have been handed down through the family for several generations.
Sharing Family Skills
It is often possible to share a particular skill or interest with younger family members to preserve a special family tradition or ability. These skills can range from practical to creative and might include the following:
- sewing, patchwork, embroidery, knitting, crochet or other needlework crafts
- playing a musical instrument, singing or writing music
- cooking, gardening, handyman expertise and other household skills
- photography, painting, drawing or other creative talents
Shared skills and interests can connect family members across the generations and create wonderful memories of projects completed together.
Traditional Family Recipes
Most families have favourite recipes that have been handed down through the generations and/or enjoyed regularly at family gatherings. Children are generally very enthusiastic about helping in the kitchen (especially when there are cookies to be sampled after their efforts). Create more family memories to treasure by passing on family recipes and cooking skills.
Ensure that family recipes are clearly recorded for others. This can be done most simply in a notebook. Some recipe websites have a facility for entering recipes online where others can easily access them.
Allrecipes.com has a create-a-cookbook option where any recipes entered on their website can be added to a cookbook template. After selecting an appropriate cover text and picture and other minor formatting details, a complete cookbook can be ordered containing all the family favourites. This is a great engagement or wedding gift idea and would also make an ideal housewarming present for young family members moving away from home for the first time.
Share Stories and Traditions
Many special family memories cannot be held or photographed. Anecdotes and stories about a family’s history are just as precious as more tangible items. Sharing stories about everyday life, the background for family nicknames and the history of family homes, pets and businesses, for example, preserves these memories and hands them down to the next generation.
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