AncestorNews: Start with Small Projects

True or false: Putting together a family Web site carries the same challenge as writing a family genealogy.

Answer: False!

A genealogy Web site—much like our genealogy research itself—is a work in progress. So why wait until you’ve completed your research to begin building your site? Have fun with small projects.

In putting together Web pages for my own family, I discovered that I do best when I tackle one small project at a time. I don’t try to put up a site that covers the broad spectrum of all my family lines. Instead, I concentrate on a tiny segment that I think is interesting. I’ve even posted pages that chronicle the lives of my cats!

Sample project ideas:

• Photos from a recent genealogy trip
• Headstone photos from one cemetery
• Obituaries on one of your family lines
• Trinkets and other collectibles from your grandmother
• A map showing the places your family lived
• Images of your great-grandfather’s military records
• Pictures of your female ancestors

If you don’t want a steep learning curve, sign up for a free Web site. Some of them even have genealogical templates to use in designing your page.

Here’s where to find a free host for your site:

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