Sharing Your
Family Story
PRESENTER:
Crista Cowan
Professional Genealogist
15 Mar 2014
Learn how to use the clues in records to discover more about your ancestors.
Use the tools on Ancestry.com to preserve those stories and share them with
the genealogically challenged in your family.
There Are Stories in Every Family
 The records themselves tell stories.
o A single record may have an interesting fact you can share with family
to “prime the pump” of interest in family history. (Use sparingly!)
o Single records may also provide “grease for the wheels” of memory.
o Multiple records in concert can tell more complete stories. Get in the
habit of transcribing documents to extract the bits of information that
will help you tell the story.
o Review records you’ve collected for a family to see what new patterns
emerge as your knowledge evolves.
Use Free Sharing and Story Telling Tools
 Photo Comments - Invite family members to comment on photos –
share memories and stories about family members they knew
personally.
 Story View - Free to share with your family members to give them a
glimpse into the life of one ancestor.
 MyCanvas - Free to create books, charts, posters, and calendars using
the information in your family tree.
Visit the Ancestry.com Learning Center at www.ancestry.com/learn.
for account questions or technical help, call 1-800-958-9124.