From another list...worth remembering Lesley: ) -----Original Message----- From: Angela Hi Everyone, I want to share something with you that happened at Xmas. I had notification from UK that two of my genealogy pal's had passed away after short illnesses ( one was on my tree ). The husbands of both asked me what they were suppose to do with all the genealogy and did I have any suggestions. Both mentioned they had never really paid any particular attentions to their partners research other than a ' yes dear' , 'no dear' , 'that's nice dear ' ..........boy does that sound familar ( wide grin). I was naturally alarmed because one lady in particular had an extensive tree. All I could do was suggest he contact some of the local family history societies and take it from there. I was relieved that I had added her line to my tree and can rest assured knowing it has already been deposited with the relevant FHS. It makes you stop and think doesn't it ? Will all our hard years of research end in the bin? We all make Wills ( I hope ) but how many of us think about the family history and what will become of it. We can't assume that our spouse or uninterested children will know what to do with it. I have deposited my IOW side with the IOW FHS but none of my other branches have been submitted anywhere .. slack ! I keep telling myself I'll do it when I have that extra date or another generation back but by then it might be too late. I have put my trees on to a CD and have all my cert's scanned to disc and have sent them to a friend for safe keeping and have asked her that in the event of my death could she forward the tree's and cert's to the relevant societies. She has also sent me her tree with a promise to do the same. We update and send new discs every 6 months. I have told my husband about it ( boy was he relieved as all my research is UK based ) I told him to send her anything he came across as she'll know what to do with it all. If you haven't deposited a tree with the IOW FHS ( or anywhere else ) now might be the time. Conduct a test and aske your spouse or siblings what they are going to do with it all when you're gone ........you might be alarmed at the respose ! Angela

I agree the scenario is a dilemma that needs to be addressed. Most, if not all will have children, nieces, nephews, spouses. Someone has to go into a property when the last of the spouse has died. I think our records should be placed somewhere so that they can easily be found. We assume that our successors will be interested and I would agree that the records, if they are worth keeping should be passed on to the family history society. It does make it more important to make a Will, and leave a note about records. Coincidentally, I live in the Isle of Wight, but my searches, most of them relate to my Scottish family. I am at the end of the line, have no sibling or spouse, and were it not for the fact that my son, adopted at birth, decided to find me, I wouldnt have anyone to pass them onto. Some might say, why search? There's a need in me, to search and find out what my ancestors left behind and almost housebound so its a hobby with a purpose for me. I too have placed my records on CD, and I back them up frequently. I have shared them with an older husband of a second cousin, once removed. Janet ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lesley.Culshaw" <lesley.culshaw@blueyonder.co.uk> > From another list...worth remembering > Lesley: ) > -----Original Message----- > From: Angela > Hi Everyone, > > I want to share something with you that happened at Xmas. > > I had notification from UK that two of my genealogy pal's had passed away > after short illnesses ( one was on my tree ). The husbands of both asked me > what they were suppose to do with all the genealogy and did I have any > suggestions. Both mentioned they had never really paid any particular > attentions to their partners research other than a ' yes dear' , 'no dear' , > 'that's nice dear ' ..........boy does that sound familar ( wide grin). > > I was naturally alarmed because one lady in particular had an extensive > tree. All I could do was suggest he contact some of the local family history > societies and take it from there. I was relieved that I had added her line > to my tree and can rest assured knowing it has already been deposited with > the relevant FHS. > > It makes you stop and think doesn't it ? Will all our hard years of research > end in the bin? We all make Wills ( I hope ) but how many of us think about > the family history and what will become of it. We can't assume that our > spouse or uninterested children will know what to do with it. > > I have deposited my IOW side with the IOW FHS but none of my other branches > have been submitted anywhere .. slack ! I keep telling myself I'll do it > when I have that extra date or another generation back but by then it might > be too late. > > I have put my trees on to a CD and have all my cert's scanned to disc and > have sent them to a friend for safe keeping and have asked her that in the > event of my death could she forward the tree's and cert's to the relevant > societies. She has also sent me her tree with a promise to do the same. We > update and send new discs every 6 months. I have told my husband about it ( > boy was he relieved as all my research is UK based ) I told him to send > her anything he came across as she'll know what to do with it all. > > If you haven't deposited a tree with the IOW FHS ( or anywhere else ) now > might be the time. > > Conduct a test and aske your spouse or siblings what they are going to do > with it all when you're gone ........you might be alarmed at the respose ! > > Angela

I read somewhere that the Society of Genealogist's are very willing to take deposits of family papers which have no other home in sight. Keith

I am since reliably informed that sodium carbonate - Na2CO31OH2O - is a white crystalline that forms an alkaline solution in water solid which is used in glass making and is commonly known as washing soda. Dangerous to eyes, and if ingested. I seem to remember I might have recommended it for warts n all! Does anyone have any other thoughts on its effect? d;^) Janet ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janet" <wightway@tiscali.co.uk> > > I agree the scenario is a dilemma that needs to be addressed. Most, if not all will have children, nieces, nephews, spouses. Someone has to go into a property when the last of the spouse has died. I think our records should be placed somewhere so that they can easily be found. We assume that our successors will be interested and I would agree that the records, if they are worth keeping should be passed on to the family history society. It does make it more important to make a Will, and leave a note about records. > Coincidentally, I live in the Isle of Wight, but my searches, most of them relate to my Scottish family. I am at the end of the line, have no sibling or spouse, and were it not for the fact that my son, adopted at birth, decided to find me, I wouldnt have anyone to pass them onto. Some might say, why search? There's a need in me, to search and find out what my ancestors left behind and almost housebound so its a hobby with a purpose for me. > I too have placed my records on CD, and I back them up frequently. I have shared them with an older husband of a second cousin, once removed. > > Janet