One challenge we all face is what to do with all the data that we collect about our ancestors. For years I have been trying to gather all the copies, photos, digital files that I have and put them together in one place. Simple files on my computer weren't really working for me, so I decided to start building websites.

Why a website?

The power of a website is that you can put all your materials together in one place and make the links and connections between people and families that are so important to represent. I also enjoy being able to share the materials I have collected and discoveries I have made. Another great thing about a website is that you can continue to expand and grow. As we continue our research we gather more and more materials and these can be simply added to the website whenever we're ready. I also have several other ideas for future projects and story-telling, so I can add context to the data that I've collected. These stories will help my family understand their ancestors in their own worlds. Once I start creating these stories, I can just simply create another page for the website and voila! there it is.

New Discoveries

I have also discovered many new things and come across old things I've forgotten, simply by organizing and posting materials to the website. Being able to compare, contrast, and link documents allows for a whole new perspective. I have also been able to connect with many other researchers out in the world through my blog and website. We are truly living in a global society and the internet is our passport.

Is it hard to build a blog or website?

The quick answer is....NO! I have not programming or coding background and when I decided to do the site, I was searching for an easy and free website building program. That is how I came across Weebly. Weebly, like I said, is a free and easy website builder. Just pick a theme, drag and drop, and start creating! I have built several sites using Weebly and can genuinely say it has been quite easy and fun.

If you're looking for a way to organize your digital files and tell your family's story. I encourage you to start experimenting with building a website. You'll not only discover, how simple it can be, but perhaps you'll make some discoveries in your family history along the way.

Affiliate Disclosure

I transcribed a letter the other day (scroll to bottom of the page), a moving letter from a soon-to-be Father-in-law (John Beynon) to a soon-to-be Son-in-law (Benjamin Nicholas), giving his blessing to the marriage and their decision to move away from the family. This is a father, doing the right thing, but expressing a bit of regret that his daughter (Margaret Beynon) will no longer be close to him. Benjamin and Margaret ended up in America, so I'll have to check census records and maybe some other resources to see if they settled somewhere else first. This very interesting letter adds so much personality to the historical figures that we only know by birth and death dates, census records, and headstones.

p.s. Any Welsh speakers or readers want to help me with the address?