Humanities in the Harbor: Creating a legacy from family papers and genealogy

Claire Gebben discovered the untold story of her ancestors when three dozen letters turned up among her family papers. Eventually, these 19th century letters of German immigrant blacksmiths and wagon-makers became the basis for her debut historical novel The Last of the Blacksmiths. Since the book’s publication, readers often come to her with a pressing concern: “I have all these documents, but what can I do with them? Who among my children will ever care or know what they’re about?” A common challenge, but not impossible to overcome. Even trunks full of documents, correspondence, and ephemera can be transformed into a lasting legacy. In this presentation, Claire Gebben shares formats, ideas, organizational tips, and inspiration to ensure the stories of your ancestors, and your own life histories, are not lost.