Whether you’re interviewing your parents about their childhood or gathering family history info from your grandparents, good follow-up questions are key.

family history, the art of listeningDawn M. RoodeOctober 9, 2024why follow-up questions are good, family history interview techniques, is there such a thing as a bad family history interview questionComment

Friendly reminder: Your personal story is part of a broader family history

While your memoir is telling your stories in your words, a family tree chart outlining your relationships has a real place in that book—here’s why.

family history, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeSeptember 9, 2024should i inlude a family tree in my personal history book, when to include a family tree in a memoir, how to make my memoir more relevant to my familyComment

In conversation about “the gift of family stories”

Podcast host Melissa Ceria and personal historian Dawn Roode discuss the importance of family history preservation and finding solace in stories after loss.

dawn's musings, family historyDawn M. RoodeJune 24, 2024dawn roode and melissa ceria in conversation about family stories, the loss encounters episode guest dawn roode, melissa ceria on the family history book her father gifted her family, the gift of family stories, podcast recommendation for memorykeepersComment

To read or not to read? How to handle a deceased family member’s personal letters

Discovering a stack of handwritten letters can feel like winning the family history lottery—but is it always the right thing to read (or share) them?

dawn's musings, family history, remember lost loved onesDawn M. RoodeMay 27, 2024is reading my ancestor's letters an invasion of privacy, is it wrong to read letters from someone who died, should i read someone else's personal letters, are letters always valuable for family history Comments

4 Unique family history finds from RootsTech 2024

From a conference hall filled with more than 150 family history vendors, I have hand-picked my favorites—here’s why you’ll love them, too.

family historyDawn M. RoodeApril 1, 2024rootstech 2024 faily history vendor roundup, the best family history services found at rootstech 2024, family history recommendations for travel and designComment

Are you weighed down by the stuff of your family’s memories?

Boxes of old letters, family photos, and mementos from a generation ago can feel like a burden if they’re passed down without context. What to do with them.

family history, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeMarch 25, 2024what to do with box of family memories, i don't want my parents stuff, what to do with heirlooms and old letters, who is the custodian of your family history archive, stories of our stuff, family heirloomsComment

All your Write Your Life questions answered

Wondering if 52 weeks of memory prompts will help YOU write about your life at last? Here, answers to the most commonly asked questions about Write Your Life.

memoir & writing, family historyDawn M. RoodeDecember 5, 2023FAQ about memory promps subscription Write Your Life, answers to questions about Write Your Life annual subscription, a year of remembering - how hard is itComment

A year’s worth of memory prompts to help you write your life

Every week you’ll get themed prompts to stir your memories, tips to write your stories with ease, and more! A unique gift for your loved one (or yourself)!