"The Art of Biography
Is different from Geography.
Geography is about Maps,
But Biography is about Chaps."
Is different from Geography.
Geography is about Maps,
But Biography is about Chaps."
In Biography for Beginners, 1905
Footnote (1)
Photographs can be a great way to get started on your project. The photographs may give you clues about the person, but remember that if you are producing a book you may need to limit your photos – so select the most important ones to use. But do not destroy any photos – preserve them. You may change your mind about those which you have selected, or you may be able to use more than you originally decided.
On New Year’s Eve just gone, I was looking for a folder of
information and found a folder of old photographs of my father. I had honestly forgotten I had them – but
they were neatly in a folder in the filing cabinet.
I realised that I had to scan and copy them – just in case
they got lost. Also I could then distribute them to other family members who might be interested. I note that my father had
typed on a sticker which he had attached to the back of each photograph,
details about the people and the date the photo was taken. My father was quite meticulous in his
documentation – something he took to new heights when he retired.
He did teach himself to type, but never tried a
computer. He wrote many letters, not
just to me, but his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Some of which we still have.
So, one of my tasks is to scan, copy and save the
photographs, and then I will put them on a memory stick to share with other
family members.
Not everyone is interested in family history. In my family I have some older and younger members who have absolutely no interest in family history - and think those of us who do, are a bit weird. I like being this weird!!!!
Keep a folder of the photos of your person of interest – and
don’t forget to write something about them.
A good idea might be to number them, and create a file in say, Word,
where you write the details and record the details with the number.
My mother and father on their wedding day, Adelaide, September 11th, 1943
(I am still keeping up with the Diary of a House Sitter and Traveller Blog.)
