A Personal History is more than genealogy, more than the names, dates and places listed on a family tree. A personal history tells the stories behind those facts and brings a family tree to life.

By telling our stories now, we allow future generations to discover their ancestors' personalities, experiences and wisdom.

A personal history records life stories in words or images:

• An individual's life, or a memoir focusing on a particular event or period of time;
• A family history bringing ancestors to life through the stories behind the statistics on a family tree;
• A history of a community, organization, or group as told through the stories of the people involved.

In this busy modern world, we long for a personal connection to times past. We know that our family stories and photos of the past are our priceless heirlooms. And we always intend to preserve these treasures. I can't think of anyone who doesn't have a family history project on the back burner. But time passes...people age...and there doesn't seem to be enough time to pull it all together...where to begin? It can be overwhelming, or scary, or too full of problems.

I act as a neutral listener, guide, and organizer to bring a family history project to completion. As a non-family member, I can elicit and preserve stories, organize materials, and produce a product–a simple audiotape, for example, or a beautiful commemorative book. In all cases, I'll provide you with an advance preparation guide to help structure our discussion.