The Blank Family Tree

How to Complete a Blank Family Tree

2008-02-02T08:35:00.000-06:00

I wrote an article with step-by-step instructions on how to complete a 3-generation blank family tree. It explains the structure of the family tree, how to fill it out, and how it can be used to organize as many generations of your family history as you desire.

You can read the article here: How to Complete a Blank Family Tree

You can download a free, printable pdf of the 3-Generation Blank Family Tree Template based on the article.

Dress Up Your Blank Family Tree with Photos

2008-01-18T09:01:00.002-06:00

Adding photos to a blank family tree is an easy way to turn it into something full of life. It's really cool to see the faces that belong to the names on your family tree. Try to get some black and white photos of some of your ancestors that lived in the early 1900's or earlier, it will really add a sense of history to your family tree.

Here's an example of a photographic family tree that blew me away the first time I saw it. It is the family tree of Reverand Edward Francis Wilson, an Englishman born in 1844 who emigrated to Canada in 1868. He began creating this photographic family tree in 1880.

I hope this has given you some ideas and inspiration on how you can go beyond a blank family tree!

Get Past the Blank Family Tree with a Ghostwriter!

2008-01-15T22:55:00.000-06:00

One of the key ways to get past the blank family tree is to look at the stories behind the people. All families have stories that are passed down from generation to generation. However, as time moves on, the stories from previous generations begin to fade away. One way to preserve these stories is to use a ghostwriter to turn the stories into a book that will last forever and can be passed on to future generations.

I came across this article in the Winnipeg Free Press about Les Kletke, a "ghostwriter for ordinary folk." The article describes some of what he does:

Kletke does everything from interviewing people and putting their family history into a narrative, to laying out the text and photos into book form. He finds the right book style and printer, and delivers the boxed books to your driveway.

Kletke also sprinkles world, national and other events into a narrative to give it a flavour of the times and what was influencing people.

The article also gives some examples of the books he writes. For example, he wrote a three-volume set for one client. One volume for each generation going back to the clients grandparents. For another client who was a birder, he put her 25-year diary into a hardcover which she then had 200 copies printed. This may not be enough as it seems that other birders are really interested in her story.

Here's a link to the full article: A ghostwriter for us ordinary folk

If you need help getting past the blank family tree, you might consider calling in a ghostwriter.

The Blank Family Tree

2008-01-13T08:32:00.000-06:00

When I started researching my family tree, I couldn't find any blank family tree templates that I liked. To help other people in the same position, I decided to create this site to provide some great templates that you can use as you begin your journey. Here's a simple family tree to help you get started. I'll be posting more blank family tree templates later. So keep checking back!

Filling in a blank family tree is an easy way to start researching your family's history. It provides organization and structure for the information you discover. The amount of information that can be included as well as how it is laid out is up to you. It's only limited by your imagination.

Along the way, I've also discovered some interesting information about how others have used their imagination to go beyond the blank family tree and will share that with you. If you want to get a jump start on researching your family tree, check out this great ebook.

I hope you find some inspiration here about how you can go beyond your blank family tree!