I’m sure there are resources on YouTube from some family history YouTubers. I’ve made a few as well. That’s a great idea to use already available resources to help guide people working to rebuild.
I wonder if one of the large genealogy sites would be interested in providing relief accounts… I think I’ll have to reach out and ask. Thank you for your input!
If they’ve lost some family history, then maybe we can teach them how we found some of ours? There is so much available history on the internet to be harvested. It’s really like offering a beginner’s class in where to look for family gems. For instance, I looked up addresses in old newspapers and found articles of something significant happening at that address when a family member lived there. There must be some organization that would provide funding for brief subscriptions to search one of the newspaper sites. Think of all the obituaries too. Suspect there must be free tutorial videos somewhere?
I’ve been thinking about how we (community) help and I keep thinking about how the Search Angels help people with the DNA results. Maybe something like that. A group where people can come and gain access to genealogist and family historians open to volunteering time to help those affected by all of these disasters.
I’ve also been thinking just getting the word out that there are folks willing to help, might be the place to start.
What that “help” looks like can be TBD and might depend on what folks need help with.
One thought I had was helping with photos. I know there are groups out there that help folks restore damaged photos after disasters, but maybe we could help folks locate other copies of destroyed family photos that might be out there somewhere - maybe with other family members, genealogy sites, maybe historical societies, online sellers, antique shops, heck maybe Cracker Barrel walls 😉 even if we just create a where to look map, so people have a place to start when they’re ready.
Beautiful essay. A friend of mine who lost her childhood home in the Altadena fire is planning to set up a website to collect everyone’s memories of their neighborhood. I thought it was such a great idea.
I would suggest that folk who have lost the family records sit down and try to recall everything they can about their family history. It could be in audio files. If everyone in the family did that, they will at least be able to recapture some of the lost information.
Aryn, you're so right. This is a beautiful and compelling piece. I'm struck that you're pulling on the very strings that motivate all of us to support each other:
- Denyse Allen's "Grab and Go" post got my attention from up here in Northern California, where memories of our 1991 fires, two years after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, are still fresh (denyseallen.substack.com/p/a-simple-4-step-plan-to-save-your) She's right about prioritizing and protecting that which is irretrievable.
It reminds me that our work in tracing genealogy and telling family history isn't just for ourselves or our descendants; it's also for our extended relatives and community.
The k you for sharing these resources!! I love that people are pulling together and helping out. It’s so important to help. I’m going to re-stack this! TY
Hi, Denyse. I've set up a sub Reddit as a starting point - https://www.reddit.com/r/FamilyRootsRecoverPro/s/IxVaO8gTiI <- that's the link. I'll be sharing it in my newsletter on Monday, but you're welcome to join and share it. I'm looking for other places to set up a group for people to join, but in the meantime - we can start on Reddit.
I’m sure there are resources on YouTube from some family history YouTubers. I’ve made a few as well. That’s a great idea to use already available resources to help guide people working to rebuild.
I wonder if one of the large genealogy sites would be interested in providing relief accounts… I think I’ll have to reach out and ask. Thank you for your input!
If they’ve lost some family history, then maybe we can teach them how we found some of ours? There is so much available history on the internet to be harvested. It’s really like offering a beginner’s class in where to look for family gems. For instance, I looked up addresses in old newspapers and found articles of something significant happening at that address when a family member lived there. There must be some organization that would provide funding for brief subscriptions to search one of the newspaper sites. Think of all the obituaries too. Suspect there must be free tutorial videos somewhere?
How can I help?
I’ve been thinking about how we (community) help and I keep thinking about how the Search Angels help people with the DNA results. Maybe something like that. A group where people can come and gain access to genealogist and family historians open to volunteering time to help those affected by all of these disasters.
That’s a good idea.
I’ve also been thinking just getting the word out that there are folks willing to help, might be the place to start.
What that “help” looks like can be TBD and might depend on what folks need help with.
One thought I had was helping with photos. I know there are groups out there that help folks restore damaged photos after disasters, but maybe we could help folks locate other copies of destroyed family photos that might be out there somewhere - maybe with other family members, genealogy sites, maybe historical societies, online sellers, antique shops, heck maybe Cracker Barrel walls 😉 even if we just create a where to look map, so people have a place to start when they’re ready.
Beautiful essay. A friend of mine who lost her childhood home in the Altadena fire is planning to set up a website to collect everyone’s memories of their neighborhood. I thought it was such a great idea.
I would suggest that folk who have lost the family records sit down and try to recall everything they can about their family history. It could be in audio files. If everyone in the family did that, they will at least be able to recapture some of the lost information.
I love this idea. Thank you for suggesting it!
Aryn, you're so right. This is a beautiful and compelling piece. I'm struck that you're pulling on the very strings that motivate all of us to support each other:
- Denyse Allen's "Grab and Go" post got my attention from up here in Northern California, where memories of our 1991 fires, two years after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, are still fresh (denyseallen.substack.com/p/a-simple-4-step-plan-to-save-your) She's right about prioritizing and protecting that which is irretrievable.
- Mitch Goldstone at ScanMyPhotos has made an offer of free photo scanning services to wildfire victims with access to duplicate photos from friends or relatives (https://www.scanmyphotos.com/blog/2025/01/ca-wildfire-relief-free-photo-scanning.html)
⮕ I'm sure there are many more.
It reminds me that our work in tracing genealogy and telling family history isn't just for ourselves or our descendants; it's also for our extended relatives and community.
The k you for sharing these resources!! I love that people are pulling together and helping out. It’s so important to help. I’m going to re-stack this! TY
Thank you for kicking this off!
Checking in to see what/who has organized around this. Would love to participate.
Hi, Denyse. I've set up a sub Reddit as a starting point - https://www.reddit.com/r/FamilyRootsRecoverPro/s/IxVaO8gTiI <- that's the link. I'll be sharing it in my newsletter on Monday, but you're welcome to join and share it. I'm looking for other places to set up a group for people to join, but in the meantime - we can start on Reddit.
You're welcome! If you would like to join the sub-reddit I created, here is a link - https://www.reddit.com/r/FamilyRootsRecoverPro/s/IxVaO8gTiI