These days, it seems like everyone I know is interested in genealogy. In a recent post, we talked about creating a letter of instruction giving your loved ones the necessary information needed to handle your affairs. At the same time, why not write down the important information about you and your family that future generations would be interested in? Here is a suggested list, but feel free to add historical or personal information that you think others would want to know about you.
- My legal name
- Other names I have been known by
- Date of birth
- Social Security Number
- Place of birth (city, state, country) and citizenship
- Father’s name
- Mother’s maiden name
- Where I grew up
- Names of grandparents, aunts and uncles
- Names of siblings
- Where I went to school, and highest level of education
- Date and place of marriage(s)
- Spouse’s maiden name
- Names and birth dates of children
- Branch of armed services, dates and places served
- My first job
- Usual occupation and kind of business
- Religious preference
- Important events in my life
- Other things I’d like you to know about me
Can you imagine what it would be like to go through an old box, and find such a list from your great-grandfather?