Education Corner: Family Reunions

By Linda Bergren Polich. Are you attending a Family Reunion this summer?  These gatherings are great places to discover more of your family history!

Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your event:

• Make a guest list to document who attended and where they are from – who came the farthest?
• Take generation group photos – time slips by quickly and the older family members may not be at the next reunion.
• Talk to the older members of your family and try to get stories of their lives.  Where did they grow up? Which school did they attend?  These family members are the ones who have the memories of your ancestors – and it is those stories that bring your ancestors to life!
• Ask family members to bring photos and then copy them for your family history book!
• Bring photos with unidentified people so maybe someone in your family will recognize them.
• Print Family Group Sheets and ask those in attendance to review and add/change information as necessary.
• Do you have a family heirloom that you’re not sure of its history?  Bring it along – someone might be able to identify it!
• Ask everyone to bring along a favorite recipe – then compile them into a Family Recipe book!

Have a fun summer and enjoy your family gatherings!