Many families keep old family photographs, letters and treasures in a box. In many cases, the box is a cedar chest or a trunk. Or the box may be an old shoe box or a cigar box. If it has been created recently, it may be kept in a plastic storage container.
For those of us who haven’t inherited such a box, we can make one ourselves and ensure that there is one in our own family to be passed down to our children and grandchildren. Here are a few examples:
Cedar Chest: The cedar chest has been used for many years to carry and store personal belongings. Cedar was used to build chests because it has natural protective qualities that repel insects and fungus. It is a great box to use to hold family heirlooms, photos, letters and other valuables.
Hope Chest: The hope chest was traditionally used to collect marriage necessities. However, they have been used to hold family heirlooms as well. They are sometimes made of cedar, but may be made of other wood as well. They are a great option to hold your family tree items and heirlooms.
Fireproof Security Box: Due to the irreplaceable nature of old family photos, documents and heirlooms, it is a great idea to use a fireproof security box to hold these items.
Jewelry Boxes: Some jewelry boxes are large enough to hold some photos and letters and can double as a Genealogy Box.
Keepsake Boxes: There are countless varieties of keepsake boxes available today. Choose something that fits your needs and matches your own personal style.
Archival Boxes: If you are concerned about preserving old photographs, be aware that manufacturers are now producing photo safe archival boxes that are made to safely store photos and documents by keeping them in an acid-free environment.
No matter which type of box you choose for your own Genealogy Box, just remember that what you put in it is the most important thing. Keep what is meaningful to you and your family and pass the box down to your children and grandchildren.
It is important to keep the items that are most important to you in your Genealogy Box. Let’s look at what may be included in our box:
*Family Photos
*Old Postcards
*Handwritten Letters
*Birth Certificates
*Death Certificates
*Marriage Certificates
*Family Tree Charts
*Small Heirloom Items
Collecting all of these items in a Genealogy Box gives you a safe storage option for keeping your valuables together. You can give the Genealogy Box to your children or grandchildren and share with them the importance of passing it down to future generations.
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Recording Genealogy Research in Books
Managing Your Family Tree Online