Using Diaries, Memoirs & Letters to Enhance Your Ancestor’s Story presenter: Claire Smith-Burns
Exploring contemporary writings can illuminate your ancestors’ lives. Diaries, memoirs and letters written by people who lived at the same time and in the same place as your ancestor can help to provide context to your ancestor’s life. If you are really lucky, your ancestor may even be mentioned! These writings often tell you about local events, weather, politics and everyday hardships that may have impacted your ancestor’s life. Many of these great resources have been digitized or published. Claire will share some findings she has made plus many ideas of where and how to find diaries, memoirs and letters that could enhance the story of your ancestors.