How to make a family history book: from recorded stories to a printed copy for every branch
A family history book is more than names and dates. The part no one else can recover is the stories, and those are easiest to get by sitting down with your relatives and recording them. Here are eight steps from choosing the scope to holding a printed copy.
On this page
1. Choose the scope
The biggest reason family history books never get finished is that the project has no edge. Pick one before you start:
- One person or couple: a grandparent's life, told mostly in their own words. The most manageable first book.
- One branch: a single family line across several generations.
- One place or event: the family farm, a migration, a business the family ran.
You can always write a second book. A finished small book is worth more to the family than an unfinished big one.
2. Record the stories first
Records will still be there next year. Your oldest relatives' memories may not. Start by recording conversations with the people who remember the most, one theme per sitting.
- Family history interview questions cover names, origins, ancestors, places, traditions and papers.
- Questions to ask your grandparents and questions to ask older people work for any older relative.
- The iPhone recording guide covers in-person, phone and video calls.
Ask permission before you record, say the date and who is speaking at the start, and back up each file the same day.
3. Gather records, photos and papers
Ask every relative what they have: photo albums, letters, certificates, military papers, recipe cards, family Bibles. Scan or photograph each item, and write down who owns the original and what is known about it. Bring a few photos to your next recorded conversation; people remember far more when they have something to look at.
4. Pick a structure
| Structure | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| By generation | Start with the earliest ancestors you know about and move forward, one generation per section | Multi-generation books with good records |
| By branch | One section per family line, often one per grandparent | Books meant for a large extended family |
| By place | Follow the family from one home or country to the next | Families with a migration story |
| By person | One chapter per relative, in their own words where possible | Books built mostly from interviews |
Scribe Media's guidance. Mixing is fine: a by-generation book can still give one chapter to a relative with a big story.
5. Turn conversations into chapters
Get each recording transcribed, then shape the transcript into a story someone will want to read. That usually means putting events in order, cutting repetition and false starts, adding the context a reader needs, and keeping the speaker's voice. The transcription options guide compares software, human services and doing it yourself, and how to turn a transcript into a chapter walks through the edits.
Between stories, write short connecting passages yourself: who this person was, where and when the story happened, how they fit into the family.
6. Add the tree, photos and sources
- A family tree chart near the front, so readers can find their place.
- Photos with captions that name everyone, give a place and an approximate date, and say who owns the original.
- A note on sources: which parts come from interviews, which from records, and what is family tradition that could not be confirmed.
- An index of names if the book is long, so relatives can find their own branch.
7. Check facts and privacy
Memories drift. Check names, dates and places against records where you can, and say plainly when something is family tradition rather than documented fact. Keep both versions when relatives remember a story differently; the difference is often interesting in itself.
Be careful with living people. Before you print anything about a living relative's health, marriage, money or conflicts, show them the passage and ask. Leaving something out is always an option.
8. Print and share it
Most families use a print-on-demand or photo book service, which prints copies one at a time, so you do not need to order in bulk. Order one proof copy, have a relative who was not involved read it for errors, fix them, then order copies for each branch. Keep the recordings and transcripts too, backed up in two places; for many families they become as precious as the book.
Start here: pick the scope, then call your oldest relative this week and ask if you can record one conversation about where the family came from.
Common questions
How do I start a family history book?
Decide the scope first: one person, one couple, one branch or one place. Then record the oldest relatives you can reach, because their stories are the ones that cannot be found anywhere else. Records and photos can be gathered later.
How do you organize a family history book?
Three common ways: by generation, starting with the earliest ancestors you know about and moving forward; by branch, one section per family line; or by place, following the family from one home to the next. Pick the one that makes the stories easiest to follow.
What should be in a family history book?
Stories first, then the supporting material: a family tree chart, photos with captions, key dates and places, copies of important documents, a note on where the information came from, and an index of names if the book is long.
How long does it take to make a family history book?
It depends on the scope. A short book about one person, built from a few recorded conversations, is a project of weeks. A multi-generation history with records research can take much longer. Starting small and adding later is a good way to finish.
How do I print a family history book?
Most families use a print-on-demand or photo book service, which prints copies one at a time. Get one proof copy first, have a relative read it for errors, then order copies for each branch of the family.
Sources: steps, structures and guidance written by Scribe Media for this guide. Published by Scribe Media.