Creating a Family History Book: Start-to-Finish Guidance for Assembling and Printing a Family Keepsake

You’ve worked hard to uncover your family’s history, and you want to preserve your research in a form that will stand the test of time—a keepsake book that can be shared today as well as archived for future generations. If you’ve ever thought such a project was too overwhelming or that you had to complete you research before you could create your book, this simply isn’t true. Family history books come in all flavors, from collections of family recipes to compilations of oral history interviews. This course will show you how to make the process manageable and enjoyable from start to finish.

COURSE BEGINS: View upcoming course schedule for dates
COURSE LENGTH: 4 weeks
TUITION: $99.99 ($89.99 for VIP)
INSTRUCTOR: Nancy Hendrickson (Bio)
Download course syllabus

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
In this class you’ll learn how to begin your family history book and continue the process to finished product using these four steps:

1. Planning: Choose your theme
2. Imagery: Photos and Documents
3. Research: Fill in the Blanks
4. The Final Product: Your Family History Book

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

• Genealogists seeking a creative way to share their family’s story
• People who are curious about making a family history book but don’t know how

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: REQUIREMENTS & SUPPLIES

• Your memories and perhaps those of other family members
• Family images, such as photos of people, cemeteries, hometowns, homesteads, pets, vacation spots, family dinners, reunions.
• Documents such as Civil War enlistment papers, marriage licenses, birth certificates, high school report cards
• A desire to preserve at least one aspect of your family history

Optionally, you may want to use:

• Image editing software: Image editing software is helpful if you plan on editing your digital images. You may use the software of your choice.
• Digital Recorder: If you plan on including interviews in your book, you can either jot responses during the course of the interview, or use a digital recorder for later transcription. If you choose a digital recorder, Sony and Olympus both offer several models priced under $100.

Lesson 1: Planning and Interviews

• Planning
  • Choosing a theme
  • Determining the scope
  • Style
  • Details
• How to get a great interview
  • Preparation
  • The interview
  • Anecdotes
  • Taping interviews
• Three quick tips
• Exercise

Lesson 2: Images and Documents

• Image resolution
• Layout
• Documents to include
• Photo rescues
  • Rescuing an image with Pixlr
• Finding copyright-free images
  • My favorite 10 sites for images
• Exercise

Lesson 3: Research

• Google Books
  • Sample search
• Google News Archive and Timeline
  • Sample search
• Advanced Book Exchange
  • Other used book websites
• Adding Personal Memories
• Exercise

Lesson 4: The Final Product

• Preparing your book for print
  • How to use Lulu
  • Designing a cover image
  • Creating a collage
• Before your book goes to the printer
  • Getting the word out
• After your book goes to the printer
• Exercise