Preserving My Family Tree: How I Share My Research
Did you see Linda Stufflebean’s post, Preserving My Family Tree, on her blog Empty Branches on the Family Tree? In it, she not only shares her efforts to safeguard her genealogy research but also challenges readers to reflect on how they are preserving their own work.
Like Linda, I’ve given a lot of thought to preserving my family history. While I rely on RootsMagic to record and document my research, I also have an extensive collection of family photos and documents. Many of these treasures were passed down to me by my grandmothers, and I feel a deep responsibility to ensure they are shared with my cousins and future generations.
Over the years, I’ve used a variety of platforms and methods to share my research, including:
Online Family Trees
- Ancestry – Heartland Genealogy Public Tree
- Updated via TreeShare from RootsMagic
- Connected to four DNA tests for additional research insights
- FamilySearch Tree
- GEDCOM uploaded in 2017
- Contributed over 2,500 family photos and documents (Memories)
- Added 3,000+ sources to support accurate records
- MyHeritage
- Created Heartland Genealogy Tree from a GEDCOM file
- Connected to DNA results for expanded matching
- Geneanet
- Uploaded a GEDCOM file in 2024
- WikiTree
- Built profiles for ancestors through my 2nd great-grandparents, with some lines extending further
Published & Printed Works
- Genealogy Books (1993)
- Generated using The Master Genealogist
- Distributed to genealogy libraries and historical societies (See WorldCat for listings and availability)
- Family Books
- Compiled and shared with siblings, nieces, and nephews
Ongoing Research & Blog Contributions
Finally, I use this blog to:
- Share my current research findings
- Highlight documents from my collection
- Publish various reports generated from my RootsMagic files
Preserving our family history is an ongoing effort, and I’m always exploring new ways to make this information accessible and meaningful for my family. How are you ensuring that your genealogy research is preserved for future generations?