Author Topic: I can't take it with me, so who gets it?  (Read 1537 times)

Offline cannyfindit

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I can't take it with me, so who gets it?
« on: Friday 29 June 07 15:40 BST (UK) »
This may seem a bit of a dismal question....but....if I accumulate information about my family tree, plus photo collections, during the remainder of my life; what's going to happen to it when I'm no longer here?  :(
My family tree isn't spectacular, or famous, but all that effort put into assembling it during my lifetime, it seems a shame that it could all go to the bin. I doubt if my son would keep it all as a family "heirloom".....and he's the end of the line, so to speak.
What are other people planning to do with theirs?
Carey or Carrey (Lanarkshire, Galloway, ?Ireland)
Mathie (Renfrewshire)
Wilson (Cumbria, Northumberland)
Lawson (Cumbria, beyond)
James (Bradford on Avon and Cardiff)
Green (Bradford on Avon)
Tripp (Cheddar and Shipham, Somerset)

Offline LizzieW

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Re: I can't take it with me, so who gets it?
« Reply #1 on: Friday 29 June 07 16:02 BST (UK) »
Probably give it to my daughter, she's a real hoarder, but then if her children aren't it will stop there. 

As I have lots of children, I intend to copy all the info, including photos, certificates etc. and give copies to all of them. 

One of my sons lives in USA and he is interested in family history and as you, no doubt, know Americans are very keen on finding out information about their origins in the UK, so if my son passes the info to his daughter, who is half American and she passes it on to any children she has, that American line won't have much work to do and can just spend their time visiting all the places in the UK that will be mentioned. 

Mind you if they want to trace my granddaughter's mother's line, they'll have their work cut out.  She is partly Italian, partly African American, partly white American and some other mixes.

Seriously though, there was another thread on this topic, but I can't find it at the moment but some people suggested leaving it all to the local Family History Society, or if you don't live in the same area as your descendants lived, send it to the one in their area, so that if, in the future, someone comes searching for information, all your work will be available for them.

Liz

Offline Uncle Reff

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Re: I can't take it with me, so who gets it?
« Reply #2 on: Friday 29 June 07 17:14 BST (UK) »
This may seem a bit of a dismal question....


Not at all...

You will have spent a lot of time and effort (not to mention the expense) in doing all that work, and the last thing you want to see is it all thrown away.

I think the obvious one is to give a copy to the Society of Genealogists, that would obviously limit it to their members, but you could at least be sure that it was cared for.

Being so inclined, I have began to put the fruits of my research onto the Internet, but I am not sure who would keep it going when I meet the Great Genealogist in the sky  ;). Wouldn't it be nice if there was a permanent website where this could be done (perhaps there is one already?)

John
Researching: Reffell, Rattle, Summerhayes, Dane, Masset, Burchatt & Leshley... & Jones!