After I retired 14 years ago I started doing a little looking into the family history. That lead to my receiving a used computer from one of my daughters when she got a new one. That stopped the trips to the Library, which was twice a week. It lead to working on line every day. As I learned more I spent more and more time on the computer. All of that lead to a new larger computer which in turn resulted in more and more information. I am now on my third computer. Each with more memory than the last.Now my problem. What form have most people used to make this information available to other members of the family? Narrative-raw information etc.I do plain to put it in a book for the children and other members of the family. I guess I should also add that I use Family Tree Maker 2006. Donald

Narrative reports are a good way to share one's family research with people who are not particularly interested in looking at a computer database. I like to share ANCESTOR reports with notes, sources and an index beginning with the branch of the family in question. Having some paper reports are important because electronic data could disappear if people don't update over time their computers, media and programs. One can print out the narrative, and print out selected pictures, maps, diagrams, pedigree charts and have the entire document bound at a place like Kinkos or Staples. Office Max, etc. The disadvantage to a narrative report is that you don't get parents & siblings of the spouses, etc. that someone wanting other clues to pursue might be interested in. It is important to include the sources since 20 years from now someone may pick up your book and decide they want to continue where you left off. To send "everything" you might want to do it by sharing your entire database. I have purchased copies of my favorite genealogy program (RootsMagic) for my siblings and update their files about once per year. I have put the old family pictures collected over a period of years on a DVD. Each person was given a copy. With most of the more popular genealogy programs one can also create a web site which can be put on a cd or dvd and be opened on the recipients computer with one's web browser. But there again, like the narrative reports, one would not get every single person in one's database. So I would tailor the format for each person you share with to what you think that individual or family would most enjoy. Margaret Scheffler ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Turner" <dturner8@hot.rr.com> Subject: [TURNER] Fw: How do you give all of your the information to yourfamily ? > After I retired 14 years ago I started doing a little looking into the > family history. That lead to my receiving a used computer from one of my > daughters when she got a new one. That stopped the trips to the Library, > which was twice a week. It lead to working on line every day. As I learned > more I spent more and more time on the computer. All of that lead to a new > larger computer which in turn > resulted in more and more information. I am now on my third computer. > Each with more memory than the last.Now my problem. > > What form have most people used to make this information available to > other members of the family? Narrative-raw information etc.I do plain to > put it in a book for the children and other members of the family. I guess > I should also add that I use Family Tree Maker 2006.

Donald, I have done a combination book for my family. I use the reports I made in Family Tree Maker 2006 (without that I'm not sure how I would get an index of individuals). Then I included several other sections with tabbed dividers. One section was family photos (I use my color laser printer and a tough paper); another is of maps of what the states looked like plus state maps showing where the counties are. Still another section is scanned pages from family bibles. A narrative is included as well but for someone to find a particular person, that index is invaluable. One of my daughters did a strictly narrative one of her paternal ancestors and I can never find anyone for there is no index! Good luck and I know your family will love what your are doing. I assume you have done the DNA test and know which line you connect with. Sarah -----Original Message----- From: turner-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:turner-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Donald Turner Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 9:22 AM To: turner@rootsweb.com Subject: [TURNER] Fw: How do you give all of your the information to yourfamily ? After I retired 14 years ago I started doing a little looking into the family history. That lead to my receiving a used computer from one of my daughters when she got a new one. That stopped the trips to the Library, which was twice a week. It lead to working on line every day. As I learned more I spent more and more time on the computer. All of that lead to a new larger computer which in turn resulted in more and more information. I am now on my third computer. Each with more memory than the last.Now my problem. What form have most people used to make this information available to other members of the family? Narrative-raw information etc.I do plain to put it in a book for the children and other members of the family. I guess I should also add that I use Family Tree Maker 2006. Donald ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TURNER-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: 1/11/2007 3:33 PM -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: 1/11/2007 3:33 PM -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: 1/11/2007 3:33 PM