Family History Apps

The holidays are great time to share family memories. Here are some apps and website that can quickly and easily preserve family stories.

StoryCorps

With the StoryCorps app, you can interview your family members anytime, anywhere. The app walks you through the interview process, helps you develop questions, records the conversations and uploads the audio to the Library of Congress. 

FamilySearch Memories

The Memories page on FamilySearch allows you to upload and store documents, photographs, and stories. You can even upload audio to the site. Access FamilySearch Memories on your computer or as an app on your mobile device.  

StoryWorth

Have you wanted to write a memoir but didn't know where to start? StoryWorth is an email-based story-telling subscription service that will email you one question or writing prompt a week. After a year, your responses are bound into hardcover book. This is a fun and easy way to record your story for future generations. 

TreeLines

Family history should be more than just dates and places. TreeLines is a collaborative site that helps you add stories and memories into your family tree. Upload your tree or start one from scratch. 

Twile

Twile
Create interactive timelines with Twile. Build your tree, then add milestones, photos, and memories. Twile makes your family history attractive, accessible, and engaging. 

Don't forget note-taking apps like Evernote can also be used for recording and storing family histories. 

Books to break down your brick walls

Do you want to improve your genealogy research skills this year? Here are a few new(ish) books to help you master new techniques in the new year.

Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques by George G. Morgan
This book is all about breaking down your brick walls. The authors describe how to reexamine the evidence you have, how to use little-known resources, and how to develop research strategies to address your unique specific problems.

The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger
This is the most comprehensive guide on DNA and genealogy. Understand the basics of DNA testing and how to interpret and incorporate your DNA results into your research.

How to Use Evernote for Genealogy by Kerry Scott
Learn how to organize your research (and your life!) with this helpful note-taking app. Store, organize, and share your documents, notes, photos, and audio files with Evernote.

Organize Your Genealogy by Drew Smith
One of my favorites! This excellent guide will help you organize not just your physical and digital files but also your research process, correspondence, research trips, and your educational goals.

The Troubleshooter's Guide To Do-It-Yourself Genealogy by W. Daniel Quillen
Go beyond the basics of genealogy research. Quillen provides in-depth explanations of records and advanced research techniques.

Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com by Nancy Hendrickson
Explore all of Ancestry's vast collections and master the best search techniques for finding your ancestors. Also discusses Ancestry Family Trees and AncestryDNA.

Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org by Dana McCullough
Discover the best research strategies for using FamilySearch. Learn about their offline resources, family trees, and more.

The Great Thanksgiving Listen

The holidays are the perfect time to learn more about your family history and StoryCorps wants you to interview your relatives this Thanksgiving as part of the Great Thanksgiving Listen. Download the StoryCorps app which will help you select questions, record your interview and upload it to the StoryCorps archive in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

StoryCorps is specifically encouraging students to interview their older relatives this Thanksgiving but all ages are welcome to use the app and upload their interviews.

FamilySearch Apps

FamilySearch has added a new App Gallery to their website. The apps are mostly websites that help you organize or find information to add to your family tree but some such as MobileFamilyTree you can download to your portable devices.

Apps, such as Kinpoint, analyze your family tree, explain what information is missing and provide insights into what records you need to search for. Others, like HistoryLines, organize and visualize the lives of your ancestors in unique ways.

My favorite is RootsMapper which syncs with information in your FamilySearch Family Tree. RootsMapper then plots out the routes your ancestors traveled across generations. It's an easy and interactive way to visualize your family's migration.

RootsMapper