Workshop Series: Writing Family History
Multiple Dates Winter 2025
Writing Family History- Managing Expectations Writing Workshop
Is this the year you finally write the family history book you promised yourself that you would write?
But what can you expect from taking on this challenge? Besides personal commitment, there is the organizational consideration of putting letters, photographs and videos into a format that you can share. And what options do you have for dissemination and/or preservation? Publishing, self-publishing or perhaps in a digital format.
Led by the author of A Father’s Letters: Connecting Past to Present, these three 75 minute workshop held on successive months will provide strategies and insights to these questions. But equally important it is an opportunity to share your experiences and progress with like-minded individuals. These classes are intended to build off of each other and the progress you are making with your own writing. Gain insight and feedback from others in the workshop.
Workshop Syllabus
https://bit.ly/FathersLettersWorkshop
Moderator: Murray Browne
Not only does this workshop provide information, but it puts like-minded individuals together to exchange thoughts and ideas.
Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00-7:15 p.m.
An overview of the possibilities and potential pitfalls of writing family histories. Writing as compared to digital recordings, types of writing services such as Storybook, self-publishing pros, cons, and costs. Time for participants to voice what kind of project they would like to take on or have already started.
Wednesday, February 12th at 6:00-7:15 p.m.
The second workshop features Jackie Fehrenbach, a retired teacher from West Lafayette, Indiana. She will be sharing her experiences tracking down family members, ranging from database searches on Ancestry.com to fact-finding visits to church cemeteries, libraries and newspaper archives.
Often accompanied by a friend with similar experiences, Fehrenbach says, “We have learned along the way that Ancestry is not foolproof and turned our time to serious research and travel. We’ve logged thousands of miles across twenty-two states so far and have discovered myriad sources and met wonderful people, even a few unknown relatives, along the way.”
Jackie Fehrenbach is also the moderator’s first cousin.
And as time permits, we will solicit updates on participant progress.
Wednesday, March 5th at 6:00-7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
We begin with a brief recap of the first two sessions followed by a presentation by Keith Chandler who has completed a family history with his siblings.
Keith will bring copies of his book The 5 of Us: Stories of Siblings, Who Grew Up in the Deep South and Lived to Laugh About It to pass around while covering a few main areas:
- His motivation for undertaking this effort,
- The process he used to elicit information and stories from his siblings (He’s happy to share the prompts he used to jog memories.
- The production process of formatting and submission for printing,
- The results and rewards of passing these stories and memories along to future generations.
After Keith’s presentation the moderator Murray Browne will provide other examples of similar projects.
In the remaining time we hope that some attendees will share their progress in capturing their family histories.
Workshop Dates:
Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00-7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, February 12th at 6:00-7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, March 5th at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
DeKalb History Center
101 E. Court Square
Decatur, GA 30030
Tickets for remaining two workshops: $20 Members / $35 – Non Members
Individual Workshop- $15
Parking discounts available for DHC members.
