One way to make an interesting family record is to create a visual timeline. This can be done to represent one specific individual's life or to tell the story of generations.
This can be done as simply or as elaborately as you choose. For a simple timeline all you need is a straight line and something to write with on a long sheet of paper. (See example above).
Another approach would be to use one of the many online tools for creating timelines, such as Graphic Map. The idea here is to use whatever tools and material are available to you to create a visual representation of a life (your own or one of your ancestors) or to create a represention of the events of multiple generations within your family.
This can also be a great way to get young children or teens involved in learning that family history can be fun. If you have an artistic flair and a sense of adventure, involve the whole family in the following:
Begin with large piece of poster board , construction paper or a piece of blank butcher paper. Make a horizontal line at the mid point of the paper and then mark off units of time (single years or by decades - you decide what best meets your needs.) If your timeline is for a single lifepath you will begin with year of birth. If you are making a chart for several generations it could begin with date of a marriage, date of emigration, whatever event you choose. Get creative!
Next you will glue on photos, words and symbols in the area of the paper above the line to represent significant happenings. (Make color photo copies of family photographs or print them off on a computer so you can add your special images without harming the originals, of course.) Add bits of fabric, glitter, and paint if you want to make it really fancy.
You can explore online clip art to find symbols you may want to use to represent the basics such as births, marriages and deaths or for homes, schools, jobs, and any special accomplishments you want to portray (this could be anything from an Eagle Scout award to running your first marathon!)
You may want to splurge with alphabet macaroni, glitter, beads, buttons and other objects that can be used to adorn your personal or family timeline. When it is complete, hang the timeline where all the family can admire it and be reminded of both the events portrayed in your masterpiece AND the special time you had together as a family being creative. Perhaps telling about the time you all got together and made the family timeline will be one of the special memory stories that will be passed down for generations to come.
