Top 10 Things to Include in a Family History Report

When you begin to list family history for the benefit of future generations and those living you will need to list certain items. Once you have your list completed you can fill in the details and facts that make it fun, factual and ready for further history as it unfolds with the family tree.

1. First you need to record a history overview where the family line started and how they arrived to where they are today. This is important so each member can understand how their lives have been influenced by the past decision of their ancestors. It's important to know if family history started in the country of origin or if they migrated from another country and the reason. Include jobs, moves, traditions and events that shaped the reason for where you are today.

2. Next list names, dates of birth, name and date of marriage, children the marriage produced and the dates of their births. This is your focus place to start filling out the family tree. Follow each with names, date of births, children produced for each sibling and generation. List original ethnic background and how it affected decisions.

3. Start with the first names on your tree and start a small history of each one. You can list occupations, situations, arrival to a new country and first homes. It doesn't have to be much if you don't have much information, but any information will lay the foundation for following family line.

4. Record information about national and international events during the lives of each generation. Sometimes there will be several items to record. Discuss how it affected the family members and influenced their decisions. Examples such as wars, soldiers, deaths due to events, weather events and changes in the country.

5. Gather all picture you can find. List names and dates on the pictures along with where the picture was taken and any occasions such as graduations, weddings, vacations and other events.

6. Choose lifestyles of members that became remarkable or changed the habits of the time such as military services, political decisions, health issues and careers.

7. Make a list of members that achieved fame for talent or even criminal acts and how it affected other members. Include comments from family members regarding the act.

8. Interview everyone alive about the past and what they remember about family members no longer alive. You can learn some amazing history and insights as to why families have bonded or have been estranged from each other for years. Add short stories about their childhood memories both good and bad. We love to know how our own survived childhood and how it affected their own views on raising a child.

9. Record personal events such as family reunions, funerals, unusual family deaths or anything else noteworthy to the history of everyone.

10. Provide information on current family members along with pictures about what each family is doing at their own moment in history and what they hope to achieve.

This is a short list for beginning a family history account. As you research and find new information you will want to dig even further. Invite any member to add information, interviews and opinions to the history. For all members include a funny story of childhood or bad behavior that brought a smile from the past.