Family Scrolls

The Fallacy Of Historical Accuracy

In some corners of the personal history world, AI tools have raised alarm. A common concern is that when we use AI to colorize or restore old photographs, the result can cross a line from preservation into distortion—faces altered, clothing re-imagined, artifacts that no longer feel authentic. The worry is that, unless tightly controlled, these…
Building Personal Histories With AI Examples

This is me thinking out loud about ways to use AI and push the boundaries and engage family with their history stories. I visit with my elderly parents most every Sunday and have been recording our conversations for well over 10 years. I’m excited about the possibilities AI is showing me. Below is a transcript…
Turning Family Conversations Into Zines, Songs & StoryworldsFor the Family Historian With a Wild Streak

If you’re a family historian, you’ve likely spent time collecting old photos, scanning handwritten recipes, documenting genealogical charts, and maybe even recording the occasional oral history. But what if the raw conversations — those messy, beautiful, unfinished ones — held more than just factual value? What if they were seeds for something bigger? Something weirder?…
Creating a DIY Family History Zine: A Treasure Trove of Memories

Preserving family history is a meaningful way to celebrate your heritage and keep cherished memories alive for generations. One delightful and creative approach to documenting your family’s legacy is by creating a DIY family history zine. This project not only brings family members together but also results in a heartfelt keepsake that everyone can enjoy.…
Grandpa Dunn AI Video: Falling In the Creek

This is a photo of my great, great grandfather as a young man; probably around 1890. Here, Hedra generates a video of a story I found in his life sketch of him retelling a story his mother told him of when he fell in the creek as a small boy.
Mary Visker: Living the Peaceable Life

Mary Visker, my cousin and the daughter of my father’s oldest sister Gwen, is an inspirational figure whose works focus on themes of faith, gratitude, and personal revelation. Her new website, MaryVisker.com, begins life in hopes of becoming a comprehensive portal where readers can learn more about her life, writings, and ongoing projects. About Mary…
A Look at Hedra: I create a video from a 70-year-old photo and an audio recording of my father

Hedra is a new AI-generated video creation tool that has just entered its public beta phase and is free to try. I’ve discussed many times how AI is going to play a role in curating local and personal history content. In creating this video, I uploaded a photo of my father. It’s his Navy portrait…
From Memories to Narratives: Using MyMind to Craft Your Family’s Story

A tool like MyMind, as discussed in the Fast Company article, can be incredibly beneficial for building your family history. Here’s how: 1. Organizing Visual Memories: MyMind excels at capturing and organizing visual content effortlessly. When building a family history, you can collect and store photographs, scanned documents, and other visual artifacts. The tool’s intuitive…
The Lims’ Rubbish Famzine: A Decade of Family Creativity

In the bustling creative scene of Singapore, one family has turned their household into an art collective, producing a unique magazine called Rubbish Famzine for over a decade. Conceived by Claire and Pann Lim in 2011, along with their children Renn and Aira, this “famzine” (a blend of “family” and “zine”) is a testament to…
Sarah Morton Taggart – Thomas Callister & Helen Marr Clark & Caroline Clara Smith & Mary Lovina Phelps & Caroline Eliza Lyman: A Climb Up My Mormon Family Tree

Zine: Thomas Callister & Helen Marr Clark & Caroline Clara Smith & Mary Lovina Phelps & Caroline Eliza Lyman: A Climb Up My Mormon Family TreeAuthor: Sarah Morton TaggartFormat: 40-page Digest-sizeAvailable at: Sarah Morton Taggart’s Website A Journey Through Mormon Heritage Sarah Morton Taggart’s zine, “Thomas Callister & Helen Marr Clark & Caroline Clara Smith…