Welcome To A New

Starting today Shades welcomes Denise Olson and her column "The Future of Memories." Denise, whose Family Matters blog was named one of Family Tree Magazine's 101 Best Websites for 2007, offers technology and research support to family historians. She also writes about her personal family history and traditions sprinkled with lots of local color in the popular Moultrie Creek blog. Denise is everyone's favorite Digital Diva and Shades is pleased to feature her new technology column. Welcome Denise!

THE FUTURE OF MEMORIES
BY DENISE OLSON
A Monthly - Weekend With Shades - Column

January - The Creative Toolbox

While I am totally addicted to researching my family history, I'm not too fond of the "formal" family history. Sure, these documents include all kinds of great information to help me make connections with my ancestors, but they are also very dry. The rest of my family might look at the photos included in the history - "might" being the key word here - but not much else. Like me, they enjoy their family history education in small doses that include photos, letters, journals and good stories. To that end, I take advantage of all the creative digital tools I have to produce fun and fascinating slices of family history to share. That's the future of my family memories . . .