I choose that my Family History Home is at FOREVER, but you can have yours wherever you want.
Create Yours Digitally or Physically
When you hear the term “Family History Home™,” what comes to mind?
For many of us, genealogy lives wherever we happen to be—our desks, dining tables, genealogy office/cave (just kidding), phone, and boxes stashed in the basement. And while our research journey might wander, our materials need a home.
Let’s fix that.
A Family History Home™ is the centralized hub for your photos, documents, records, stories, heirlooms, and digital files. It’s the place where your family’s story can grow, be protected, and most importantly, be found again.
And the best part? It can be digital, physical, or both.
The Digital Family History Home™
If you love the convenience of access-from-anywhere and backup security, a digital family history home might be perfect. Here’s what that might include:
- A main genealogy folder on your computer or cloud storage (organized by surname, location, or record type)
- Digitized photos stored in well-labeled folders (e.g., “Smith Family – 1930s”)
- Your family tree software files and backups
- Notes, transcriptions, family group sheets, DNA results, and research logs
Tools I recommend: FOREVER, Google Drive, Dropbox, Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic, Ancestry, or MyHeritage software—whatever you’ll use consistently.
But I’ll be honest, I like FOREVER because I own it, and there is no fear of data mining, and my family will have access for 100 years, not like other services, where if I stop paying, they stop storing. Most importantly, I can take my entire genealogy with me using the FOREVER app.
The Physical Family History Home™
Prefer something tangible? A physical family history home gives you a space to see your legacy. That might include:
- A dedicated shelf, filing cabinet, or closet
- Binders organized by family line, with dividers for census records, vital records, photos, and other documents.
- A photo-safe box system for loose photographs and documents
- Notebooks or journals for stories and ancestor sketches
- Clearly labeled folders or magazine holders
Tip: Select acid-free materials and store everything in a cool, dry location, away from direct sunlight.
Why It Matters
Creating this “home” for your family history:
- Reduces stress and saves time
- Prevents duplicate research and lost treasures
- Makes it easier to share your discoveries
- Builds a legacy system your family can follow
You’re not just organizing—you’re building an inheritance of knowledge and love.
Action Step for Today:
Pick ONE of these to start with:
- Create a main folder on your computer called “Family History Home.”
- Choose a binder or shelf where you’ll start gathering printed materials
- Write down where your digital and physical files are currently located
Your future self (and your descendants) will thank you.
Did you see our first post? If not, you can catch up HERE.
Did you know I have a Facebook group called Getting Organized with the Family History Hound? You can join just by clicking the name above, but please answer the questions.
Here’s a worksheet you can use to track your progress
I’m a FOREVER Senior Ambassador, and I help people with their collections. If you’d like to learn more about FOREVER and see what it can do, then I suggest my YouTube Channel where you can find.
Getting Started with FOREVER
Preserving Your Photo and Digital Legacy
I’m Saving My Genealogy FOREVER
If you like what you see, you can sign up with me and you’ll receive 2GB of FOREVER Storage and $20 to spend, and you’ll have me as your Ambassador, and I’ll help you with your own collection. Here’s my Invitation.