Clip from Ancestry Magazine
You don't need to be an artist, have a computer or even know how to type, although all are useful. You can "publish" as many stories as you have ancestors and make as many copies as there are interested children. Each book will have the potential to become a treasured heirloom.
The first step is to decide who to write about. Pick someone who you have researched well and whose lifetime includes interesting events. For your first effort, it is easier to write about someone you have known personally, a parent or grandparent. Your personal knowledge of the ancestor will make it an easier project and, typically, there will be more information and photographs.
Ancestors who came from another country, homesteaded, traveled by covered wagon, had an unusual occupation or served in war are often more interesting to children. And, for older children, the more he or she can relate ancestorsŐ lives to current school studies, historic visits, or geographic location, the more intriguing they will find your story. Children will also find particularly interesting the story of ancestor they were named for or with whom they share common interests or talents.
Once you have decided whose story will be first, compile all the information you have about the ancestor in a folder. If you use a computer, store all the information about your subject in one file. Your folder or file should contain many of the following items:
-Vital statistics: date and place of birth; date and place of marriage; immigration date and port of entry; date and place of birth and death of siblings; date and place of birth and death for any children born to this ancestor.
-Land holdings: address of any property owned, including parcel numbers, name of county, and name of closest city. (perhaps a recipient of your book will be inspired to visit great grandfather's homestead.)
-Military service: branch of service, location, and what rank or position. -Work history: where and when, arranged chronologically.
-Any other interesting facts or dates important to the ancestor's story.
Organize the material birth to death order. List the facts then fill in the details. Connect your ancestor to historical events to make their life more interesting to the reader. Use antidotes and descriptions that you have heard or read about the ancestor.
Now, use the person's first name and write a story: "Long ago, and far away in Italy, a baby girl was born. Her parents named her Maria Arretta Carducci. When Maria was three, her father left the family to come to America."
For the first draft, write on lined paper or enter directly into a word processing program. If there are significant gaps between facts, start with what you know and then use your imagination to make an educated guess. For example, the only thing you know about your father's childhood is that he attended a traditional one-room school house and his family lived on a farm. You could write: "Joseph spent his childhood going to the one-room school house in Cedarville and working on the farm with his brothers."
One way to end the book is with a reference to how the ancestor is related to the child. On the last page: "The most important thing about John is that he is your great-great grandpa." Or, list the descendents the child knows: "Samuel had three children: Sarah, Jacob, and Joshua. One of them is your grandparent."
Compose a title for your story. Two to five words are usually best. The ancestor's full name is certainly appropriate. Younger children may be drawn to a catchy, even silly title. "Choo-Choo Chili-Man" for the grandfather that worked most his life on the railroad and made his family-famous chili on holidays.
When your rough draft is complete, select the best photographs to illustrate the text of your story. Try to show the ancestor as a small child, young adult, parent and worker. Remember to include pictures of places and copies of interesting documents. Of course, you may not be able to document every stage of the person's life.
If you have many photographs and find it difficult to select only a few, consider creating pages of just photographs in the center of the book or at the end. Use a photograph on the title page. Take six pieces of 8 1/2 x 11 inch typing/copy paper and fold them in half, side to side. You will end up with a "book-like" pile of 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch pages. Don't worry about a cover for now, assume that the blank top "page" is the first page of your "book".
Divide your story into pages. For small children a few sentences are plenty. Make divisions for older children at chronological breaks or according to photographs or other illustrative document copies.
Using light pencil marks lay-out your "pages" by jotting down a note on each page of what text, artwork, and/or photograph(s) will be on that page. Don't write out the whole text, just a word or two so you know what will be on the page. This is just a rough draft guide for your book. Start with the top blank page and continue through the booklet. Use both sides of each sheet of paper. Each 8 1/2 x 11 piece will become four "pages".
Two "facing" pages can be used for large or long photographs. Pencil in pages without text for photographs or other artwork as needed. If you need more pages, add them and adjust your lay-out accordingly. If you have the space, use the very first page as a title page, or consider a dedication or credits page, acknowledging someone who helped with the booklet. It may take several tries before you get the pages the way you want them.
Once you are satisfied, assemble a production booklet. This will be the original you reproduce at the copy center. Count the whole sheets you used in your rough-draft outline and duplicate it with new sheets.
Next, produce the text of your story. It can be handwritten, typed or keyed into a computer and printed. What works best for you depends on your individual talents and what access you have to equipment. Whatever you decide, make sure your production copy is clear and dark. Light lines, or faint text will not reproduce well.
Choose to use your lovely handwriting and your booklet will become testament to a soon-to-be lost art. Using a fine-line felt tipped marker, calligraphy pen or fountain pen simply write the text of your story directly onto the pages of your production booklet.
If you make a mistake, use correction fluid to cover it. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly and then start again. When you make your copies, it will never show.
For very young children, large scale letters hand-printed might be a good choice. Make sure your text is simple and leave plenty of room for artwork.
Decide to place the text at the top, bottom, or center depending on what else you have planned for the page. If using facing pages, leave a one-inch margin on the inside of each page. This will allow room for stapling.
If you have a typewriter or computer you may want to key your text. The double-sided paper makes it logistically difficult to key directly onto the proper page. You will find it much easier to cut out your text and glue it onto the pages in your booklet.
Set your margins for a 3 1/2 inch line. Decide the font style, size of print, and to single or double space depending on the length of the text and the audience. Space three or four lines between each "page" of text. For facing pages in your layout use a 9 1/2 inch line. Leave two-inches in the middle to allow for stapling.
When you finish, cut out each "page" of text using rounded corners. Use rubber cement and glue each section onto the proper page of your production booklet.
Carefully, glue or tack the artwork you have chosen onto the proper pages of your production booklet. If you or someone else is illustrating the booklet, again it might be easier to draw on other paper and glue the illustrations into the book. This will eliminate the chance of bleeding lines onto a two-sided page.
Examine your booklet. Blank space is fine. You don't have to fill up every spot on each page. When you are satisfied, take your production copy to the copy center you have selected and make a copy for all your recipients plus one for you to keep. Ask for a lighter setting to eliminate any "cut" lines. This may soften your text slightly, but if your original is clean and dark, it won't matter.
Check each page when you are finished. Sometimes the machine will cut off a portion of a word or drawing. Assemble the pages in order and carefully check each booklet to make sure all the pages are in the proper direction.
Select a cover for your booklet. Oak-tag provides sturdy protection, it is difficult to copy onto, but it comes in many colors. Leave the cover blank, and when you present your booklets write a hand-written note to the recipient, including the date and your name, on the front.
Carefully fold the pages of each booklet and the covers. Use a pen or pencil to rub the crease in. Ask to have the booklets stapled, or borrow the copy center's long-necked stapler. A standard stapler will not reach into the crease of your booklet, so be sure to do this before you leave the copy center.
Decide on an inscription for the front cover and then wrap each booklet carefully. At the next holiday gathering surprise your family with a home-made heirloom that will tell a story for generations to come.