I’ve noticed that many of my writing students share a concern–how to balance the twin tasks of writing your family history and your personal history. “I’m the last person in my family who grew up hearing the old stories,” people say. “If I don’t pass them on, they’ll be lost forever.” That’s a heavy responsibility to bear. It can even lead to paralysis–making progress on neither front, because you just can’t assign one more importance than the other.

Let’s not do that. Instead, set aside a morning–before you gather with your extended family this holiday–to discuss with like-minded individuals how to go about researching your family’s history and writing it down, personal stories and all. Next Saturday I’ll be sharing a morning with Lori Bessler, Reference Librarian/Wisconsin Historical Society and member of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society. Lori will cover the family aspect and I’ll cover how to write your own or other’s memories by capturing the “place, people, and plot” of anecdotes future generations will treasure.

Workshop description:

Are you ready to write your family history? This class will show you how to prepare, how to write family history, and the various levels of family history projects that will share your hard research work with your family and friends. Presented by Wisconsin Historical Society’s Reference Librarian Lori Bessler with guest lecturer Sarah White.

1 morning, Saturday December 15, 9:00-noon, Memorial Library Room 126, Library Mall, UW-Madison Campus.

Fees: $25 for WHS or WSGS members, $30 for non-members. To register, click here.