We tend to think of family history as people before us but it’s important to record current generations too. The next generation will thank you for it, eventually!

How to help the next generation

• Have you added names to all your family photos? Hardcopy ones, yes maybe? But what about all the digital ones? Here’s an article with information on how to write on the back of a digital photo
• Are you storing photographs and documents in the best way? The US National Archives has information on preserving family papers and photographs with pictures to help . There’s briefer advice from a UK archivist here or some more detailed advice from Staffordshire Archives.
• Are you building up an archive of current events – birth announcement cards, wedding invitations, funeral service leaflets and so on? You could scan these documents too in order to minimise wear and tear on them. This page from my uncle’s funeral leaflet has a lot of valuable information.
• What about recording your memories about these people, stories from your own childhood, the things you reminisce about at family gatherings?

This is just a starter list. Don’t forget to celebrate the next generation and record their achievements too. Here’s a link to my first cousin twice removed and her band, Hellia. First cousin twice removed? Her grandfather is my first cousin.