Unwrapping Family History

 (10+1) Perfect Presents for Family History Lovers

By: Heather Haunert

Unlocking the door to the past and preserving cherished memories, family history enthusiasts possess a unique passion for connecting with their roots. As the holiday season approaches or a special occasion beckons, the quest for the perfect gift begins. Delve into my curated list of gifts for the family history lover. From tools to keepsakes, these selections are sure to ignite the joy of discovery and storytelling in the heart of your favorite family historian. Whether they’re seasoned researchers or budding genealogists, these gifts are tailored to celebrate and enrich their journey through time. Let’s explore some of my favorite presents that are sure to bring a smile to the face of any family history aficionado.

Tools for Tidying Up Your Family Tree

For family history lovers, organizational tools are like magic wands that turn the chaos of names, dates, and stories into an orderly adventure. They’re the navigational compass for your genealogy journey, ensuring you can dig into your roots without getting lost in the branches! Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Archival Storage Boxes

In addition to all of the photos accumulated during your genealogy quest, there tend to be other items that need a safe place. Things like postcards, letters, newspaper clippings, certificates, and event programs are all important pieces to be treasured. I have tried different types of archival storage boxes, but these are my absolute favorite. They are a bit larger in size (14.75” x 13” x 3.75”), and they are archival quality. The boxes come in a variety of colors. Plus, they look nice. I have a box for each surname of my grandparents and my husband’s, and I keep them in an open cabinet for display. 

2. Project Cases

One problem I run into frequently is the paper trail of genealogy. It can quickly get out of hand! A few years ago, I found these clear, portable project cases with a snap latch. They are 8.5” x 11”, and they work great to control the paper clutter. There are two choices of thickness – the thin ones are 1.6” and the thick ones are 3.15”. I prefer the thin ones because I can put several in my rolling cart when I travel to libraries, archives, or on the road to family history sites. I like to sort paperwork by surname, and these cases work great!

3. Photo Scanner

When you have thousands of pictures, the old flatbed scanners of the past will not meet your needs. After much deliberation, I bought myself the Epson FastFoto FF-680W last year. While it is a bit pricey, it was well worth the investment. This little powerhouse can scan up to 1 photo per second and batch-scan up to 36 photos at a time. It offers a variety of format options and will handle photos up to 8” x 10”. Handwritten notes on the backs of photos? No problem! If you have hundreds or thousands of photos that need to be digitized, I encourage you to check out the entire list of features this little scanner has to offer.

4. Label Maker

While I do write on some things, I love my Epson label maker. There is a wide variety of label printers available, but this one suits my needs well for a good price. These labels are very narrow, but the length is customized based on what you write on the label. They look great, and they are easy to make. They are perfect for labeling my project cases and archival boxes. Not only does this label maker have lots of uses for my genealogy projects, but I use it for so many other things around the house, too!

Gifts You Can Touch

Handing a family history lover a keepsake gift is like wrapping up their ancestry with a bow—it’s a joyful way to turn shared tales into a tangible time capsule, ensuring their family story remains an everlasting adventure. Here a some I particularly love:

5. Family Recipe Gifts 

Is there a favorite heirloom recipe in your family? My grandmother made the best date pinwheels – but she only made them at Christmas. If you’re like me, you have a recipe box full of those handwritten treasures. But why should they stay closed away in a box? Are there other family members that would love to have that favorite recipe? Give it as a gift! If you search for “family recipe gift” on Etsy, you’ll get all kinds of fabulous gift ideas for a favorite recipe. My personal favorites are the cutting boards and tea towels, but there are platters, trivets, and more!

6. Newspaper Archival Prints

Newspapers are hands-down one of the best sources of family history stories and a personal favorite of mine. Do you have a favorite story that you would like to showcase? Or maybe you want to give the gift of the front page headlines from someone’s birthday? Print a newspaper page! At NewspaperArchive, you can get a full-sized, high-resolution, quality print on acid-free, 100% cotton double-weight paper in archival quality ink. These poster prints look stunning in person. The site also includes “Editor’s Picks.” These quick-order prints are available for popular moments, sports, people, and movies.

7. Canvas Prints

As a family history lover, I wanted to create a family gallery wall in my new home. But not just any gallery wall…I wanted to recreate an actual family tree out of photos, historical records, and newspaper clippings. I researched examples, and I thought I had a good plan in place. I wanted to collect frames at thrift stores and order photo prints to create the wall. Then, I stumbled upon Canvas Champ. The prices were so incredible, that I was nervous the quality would be lacking. My first order of 28 prints arrived, they were incredible. Even my husband was blown away at how they turned out. The site has so many different sizes and shapes. Plus, uploading images and ordering is super easy. I can’t wait to order the rest of my prints and finish my family tree wall.

Gifts That Keep Giving

Like roots that intertwine underground, family trees branch wildly across history, geography, and relatives over time. Help your favorite family historian prune and maintain their lineage by gifting subscriptions and memberships.

8. Family History Bundle – NewspaperArchive, Storied Ultimate, and a StoriedBook™

I have been researching my family history for more than a quarter of a century, so I have used lots of different family history sites. Storied is a comprehensive one-stop shop catering to the passions of family history enthusiasts. The exclusive Family History Bundle encompasses the dynamic trio of Storied Ultimate, offering innovative tools for building your family tree, storytelling, historical records, and more; NewspaperArchive, providing access to more than 400 years of historical news; and a StoriedBook™, the perfect keepsake to immortalize your family’s unique journey. With this curated bundle, you can delve into the past with storytelling prowess, explore historical archives, and create a tangible heirloom that captures the essence of your family legacy—all in one seamless experience. Taking your family story further has never been easier.

9. RootsTech Registration

One of my bucket list items for family history was to attend RootsTech in person in Salt Lake City, Utah. Last year, my dream came true – and it was an incredible experience! RootsTech does offer a virtual option, but nothing comes close to going to the Salt Palace. Attending in person gives you the chance to see classes not available online, share and make connections with other passionate family history lovers, take advantage of special RootsTech discounts from exhibitors, and be among the first to demo cutting-edge technology in the field. Another perk – you are within walking distance of the FamilySearch Library!

10. Membership to a State or National Genealogical Society

Tap into the collective wisdom of an entire community passionate about family history – join a local, state, or national genealogical society. I belong to several state-level organizations as well as national societies. Here’s why membership pays dividends:

• Get assistance from fellow members to knock down those stubborn brick walls in your family tree
• Attend seminars and access libraries full of specialized genealogical resources 
• Develop connections with members who share your ancestral backgrounds
• Gain free access to certain paid genealogy databases and document archives
• Preserve and contribute records to help other members in their own search

Joining forces with others just as driven to explore family lineages creates wonderful synergies. The social bonds built around genealogy can be profoundly meaningful. And the support of a society can further your own capacities exponentially. 

Need ideas? Two of my favorite societies are the Virtual Genealogical Society and the National Genealogical Society. And if you are researching Indiana ancestors, I highly recommend my home state’s society, the Indiana Genealogical Society.

11. Genealogy Workshop or Class

As a former teacher for more than two decades, I love learning new things. I am always watching a webinar or taking a class or workshop to build my genealogical skills. Why not give the gift of learning?

Legacy Family Tree Webinars offers a yearly membership to their site with over 2,000 webinars and 8,000+ pages of syllabi. I have watched many of their webinars and learned a lot of practical and helpful tips, tricks, and information. There is definitely something for everyone. 

Another favorite site of mine is American Ancestors. They have courses on demand that give you the flexibility to explore the course at your own pace. Plus, they are always adding new sessions that are offered on certain dates, and the offerings are incredible. I have done multiple sessions with them, even a genealogical boot camp, and they have all been tremendously helpful.

Wrap It Up!

As we wrap up this gift guide celebrating family historians, I hope it sparks inspiration for creative and meaningful ways to cherish your favorite ancestral sleuths. From handy tools that keep you organized to touching keepsakes that preserve precious memories, this curated collection caters to the passionate journey of tracing our roots and reveling in the tales of our people. Most importantly, these gifts cultivate connection – both to the past and to each other as we walk hand-in-hand into the future with our shared heritage lighting the way. This season, let’s come together in the spirit of genealogy’s greatest gift: the unbreakable bonds of family, even across the farthest reaches of time. Happy gifting, storytelling, and new beginnings!