WE Seniors Genealogy Meeting – Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Topics: What to do with My Family History Research?
Presenter: Jean-Ives Vanier-Verbeek
Most family historians and genealogists ask themselves this question often. After spending many hours on researching and compiling information on their ancestors, hours spent in libraries, government offices, archives, on computers, and talking with relatives, many of us have amassed a considerable amount of information on our family history. In addition, stories and memories of our family’s past may still remain unwritten and untold. But what to do with this material and what options are available for us to pass this valuable information on to future generations is the issue?
Jean-Yves Vanier-Verbeek presented to the group some insights into the options available to ensure that our hard work will remain for others. There are four basic options to achieve this goal:
- Organize The Material.
- Digitize, Save and Store the Material.
- Publish and Share the Material.
- Donate the Material.
Organizing the Material:
Organizing your material is the first step to ensure it is accurate, in order and readable for others. This is achieved through the Traditional Handwritten Format, the use of Genealogy Software, Genealogy Websites to Create Individual Family Trees, Online Collaborative Trees, General Purpose Software and Note-Taking and Research Log Applications. Jean-Ives has provided a handout (click button to view) which details the various links for each of these options.
Digitizing, Savings and Storing the Material:
This option is available through the use of online storage sites – Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Apple icloud and Forever.com. These sites enable the genealogist to store their information in a permanent online library for future reference and use.
Publishing and Sharing your Genealogy Information:
This option is extensive and offers several means to enable the retention of your genealogical information. Fan charts, ancestral charts, family trees, family wall charts are a good option usually available through the use of various software applications or even handwritten paper documents. Writing and Publishing Family Stories could be considered where family stories are in book, document, magazine or newsletter format. Family History Blogs are a growing method to be considered or even Family History Websites. And of course, the writing and publishing of a Family History Book is a well-known option. All of these options are also detailed in Jean-Ives’ handout in the button link.
Donating Your Genealogical Research:
The use of GEDCOM (Genealogical Data Communication) is an essential software application to ensure the ease of transfer of genealogical information to other software and storage options. It will allow for the transfer/export of genealogical research from one platform to another (Ancestry, RootsMagic) and the import of it to another without losing data. GEDCOM is useful too as a backup method, for switching platforms and for sharing information by email.
Another option is to donate your genealogical information to public archives, local museums, libraries or historical/genealogical societies. A word of caution here – most archives and libraries will only accept family history research if in digital format or a published book. Storage issues limit the acceptance of handwritten or Word format material.
Also, if we are fortunate enough to find someone (a child, grandchild, cousin) who shows interest in understanding their family history and would take possession of our work, that is a very good option to consider. Bear in mind too that at some future point, perhaps years from now, a person may come forward wanting to know more of their family’s past.
Final Word:
Jean-Ives also has provided a link to understanding ‘How to Donate Your Genealogy Research So It Doesn’t Get Thrown Out’. He shared also that it is important to always backup your research records in a minimum of two places to ensure that it is not lost or destroyed. Further to this, family historians should consider inserting a codicil or specific paragraph to their Will providing direction as to their intent of the passing on of their family history material.
The work and devotion we have spent in gathering together the story of our family is a valuable asset. Like the works of great painters, musicians and authors from years gone by, they left their work so it would bring value to future generations. We have been entrusted to gather the stories of our ancestors and to ensure that their legacies live on for generations to come. It is important that this information not be lost. The many options provided to us by Jean-Ives are all avenues that we can consider to ensure our work will be available for those who follow.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Summer Sabbatical
There will be no meetings during the months of July and August.
We will resume again on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in the WE Seniors Boardroom.
The topic will be ‘Scandinavian Culture and Immigration to Canada’ presented by Ingrid Urberg, Prof. of Scandinavian Studies, Univ. of Alberta.
Please note that this is the Second Wednesday of September.