Unique Family History Gift Ideas
When it comes to gifting we all have those people who are difficult to buy for; or maybe we just want to kick it up a notch this year. Sure we could scroll through another “gift guide” listing the same old stuff, but we’re better than that! We want some unique gift ideas for the Family Researcher in our lives.
I hear you! And I’ve scoured the Internet and come up with some of the best gift ideas for any level of family historian: from beginner to seasoned pro!
Looking for something specific? Use these links to quickly get to the section you’re most interested in:
1. Memberships
One of the most important things for every hobby genealogist is ensuring they have the “right” memberships. Otherwise you’ll find yourself wasting valuable time asking your internet “friends” for their opinions!
We all know about Ancestry.com and MyHeritage (and both are incredibly valuable!), but lets look a little outside the standard genealogy box.
Here are some of the best memberships my research would be lost without …
Permanent / Forever
Permanent and Forever are 2 companies providing an essential service for family researchers: digital storage that will outlive you!
As their names indicate, they will provide storage for your research essentials, permanently. If digital file-types change, they’ll handle it to ensure your treasures remain in the best quality possible for future generations. Both require a small 1-time fee (yay for no ongoning charges!) to support their work.
The biggest difference I could find between the 2 companies was that Forever allows better handling of any meta-data embedded into your files (though Permanent promises this is coming!).
Collectionaire
Collectionaire has been the answer to my biggest headache as a family researcher: how to easily share everything I’ve discovered with family, no matter where they live.
Most cloud sites are great for storing and viewing content, but aren’t designed for building and sharing a family archive. Collectionaire solves that problem by allowing you to link your existing collection of photos, documents, videos, etc. to any person, couple, or family in your family tree. The perfect one-stop-shop!
Photomyne
Photomyne provide a quick, easy way to digitally scan your photos, slides, documents, or negatives using an app on your smartphone.
These scans can be sorted into folders, and accesses on your computer where you can download and share them with friends and family. Photomyne even provides some photo enhancement tools such as defect-healing, and colourization. I love using Photomyne to digitally convert all of my mother’s and grandmother’s family photo albums!
Legacy Family Tree Webinars
Legacy Family Tree Webinars is exactly what it sounds like: live and recorded webinars for genealogy and DNA testing by top speakers in the industry.
A membership gets you unlimited on-demand access to their treasure-trove of genealogy webinars, with new ones being released every week. Their archive currently stands at over 2100 webinars!
National Genealogical Society
The National Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. They have been teaching research skills for the past 120 years and are the perfect place to buld your skills and expertise.
Though this is an american organization, many countries offer something similar.
2. Vital Tools & Gear
Whether you’re brand new to family research or looking to up your game, the items on this list will ensure you’re never caught unprepared!
Here are some of the important gadgets that help me keep track of my findings and document family photos & hierlooms …
Family Genealogy Worksheets
Genealogy Worksheets are essential to your success as a family researcher. The longer you wai tto startt using them, the mountain of disorganization becomes. Seriously.
From ancestory profiles to family group sheets to reasearch logs and timelines, organizing and tracking your efforts makes finding and sharing your hard-won research victories much easier.
RootsMagic vs Family Tree Maker
Roots Magic and Family Tree Maker are software programs you can install on your computer that will sync to some of the big online research websites.
The biggest advantage of these programs versus a website like ancestry or myheritage is that you will own the copy of your family tree and all documents and photos you attach to it. The online tools are great, but they can change their features, offerings, and privacy policies at any time.
Scanner
A flatbed scanner is incredibly useful for genealogists and amateur family researchers alike. Many of us have inherited boxes of photos and documents, with more arriving whenever someone new hears about our adventures!
Yes, we want to properly store these valuable originals (more on that later), but digitizing everything “important” is hugely important for perservation and sharing. The Epson PerfectionV39 II is a great example of the type of scanner you should be looking for.
Negative / Slide Scanner
I mentioned Photomyne above, but if you’re a stickler for image quality, (or just really proud of your collection) you’ll want to consider a scanner specifically designer for capturing slides, negatives, Super 8, etc.
Kodak’s Scanza Digital Film & Slide Scanner is a great maching with a small footprint that will easily convert all of your media to digital files.
Smartphone Lense Kit (Macro)
Whether you want to scan your documents manually or just want to really zoom in on a family photo, a smartphone lense kit can be indespensible!
The Apexel Phone Cameran Lense Kit comes with a great combination of lenses and filters to ensure you’re getting the best quality possible. My go-to lense from this kit is the macro lense, which I use for scanning slides and negatives.
Backlight
If you’re going to forego the fancy all-in-1 scanning equipment, you’ll need to get a backlight so you can scan those slides and negatives yourself.
The Slide Viewer Light Pad provides 3 levels of brightness and offers an accompanying app to further adjust your newly scanned treasures.
Tripod
Speaking of manually scanning, a tripod is essential to scoring those high-quality digital conversions!
The EUCOS phone tripod is a great example of a great tripod with a small footprint. It includes attachments for your smartphone and action camera, and even includes a remote to further remove any chance of shake and blur.
Headset
A decent headset is essential for every family researcher. The Jabra Communication Headset is my current go-to option for tuning into generalogy webinars and YouTube videos. It’s comfortable to wear for long periods, has great sound reproduction and provides crystal clear sound when I’m speaking.
Blurb Photobook
With Blurb you can take those digitized family pictures hidden on your computer hard drive and transform them into a beautiful photobook to keep those memories alive. Blurb offers an array of samples and templates to help you create your masterpiece. Not only that, but they also make it easy to turn your creations into magazines, photobooks, eBooks, and more that you can share with other family members!
Magnifying Glass
As family researchers, we often find ourselves trying to read tiny writing or a document’s fineprint for those ellusive clues, making a magnifying glass is an essential piece of equipment!
The type of magnifying glass you need is totally dependent on your personal needs. The most common come in between 5x and 4-x magnification, and can be handheld, table-mounted, or even stand-alone. Just make sure it works for your vision needs and is comfortable for your grip.
3. Adventure Necessities
No matter where your family research takes you, it’s important to be able to be well-prepared!
With the great gifts on this list by your side, you’ll be ready for any new family discovery thrown at you …
Solis HotSpot
The Solis Hotspot is my #1 MUST HAVE for anyone who needs to stay connected while on the go. At some point, you’re research wil take you to a location not covered by your phone plan – this is when Solis becomes truly indespensible. If you don’t have one yet, buy it now and thank me later. Seriously.
It features a powerbank and remote camera added to an upgraded 5G LTE hotspot device, allowing you to wirelessly connect up to 16 devices. Solis can be used in 135+ countries worldwide and now lasts even longer with up to 24 hours of WiFi battery life! The new powerbank feature provides an embedded 6000 mAh power bank and latest USB-C connection.
Portable Hard Drive
Every family researcher needs a portable hard drive like the WD My Passport Ultra. Called me old fashioned, but I still prefer carrying one of these to relying finding WIFI access my files on GoogleDrive or Dropbox. When I need a picture or file while on the road, I don’t want delays.
Plus, never again be held at the mercy of a failed SD-card! I have heard many horror stories from friends and family of returning home after a fantastic holiday only to find all photos and videos had been deleted from a failed SD-card. There is nothing that will ruin a research trip faster! To ensure I avoid this fate, I now backup to my documents, pictures and videos regularly so I am covered should something happen.
Power Bank
The worst nightmare for anyone is running our of battery life on our devices while on the road. For that reason everyone needs a portable power bank in the 10,000+ mAh range.
The best ones are light-weight, fast-charging devices that fit in your pocket and can charge multiple devices at once. Plus they’re long-lasting, capable of charging your smartphone multiple times on a single charge!
Nomatic Messenger Bag
Nomatic has completely redesigned the standard Messenger bag you’re used to. It’s finally a bag that provides all the function you need without having to sacrifice looking good.
Designed with comfort and organization in mind, the Nomatic Messenger Bag includes an RFID safe pocket, TSA-ready laptop sleeve, protective sunglass case, and retractable key leash among its 20 features.
To be honest, if you grab one of these bags, there are a few other items on this list that you can completely skip!
Baubax Jacket
Baubax is described as “The World’s Best Travel Jacket”, and I’d have to agree – I LOVE mine! I even wear it at home!
It has 15 features, expertly designed to enhance your travel experience, including a neck pillow, built-in eye mask and gloves, drink pocket, zipper with pen, and is packed with pockets for every need. Made with high-quality fabrics, in 4 modern fashionable designs, it’s easy to see why Baubax is the highest crowdfunded fashion item ever.
Comfortable/Stylish Shoes
I recently purchased a pair of Geox Anphibiox and was immediately impressed!
Like all Geox shoes they’re durable, breathable and thermoregulated (no more sweaty feet!). But these ones also have a secret that will make every smart traveller jump for joy: They’re stylish and waterproof!!
That’s right, no more packing extra shoes in case of rain, snow, or that unexpected soaker while searching for an ancestor’s hoem or gravesite. These shoes have you covered for whatever your lifestyle can throw at them.
Portable Travel Safe
A portable travel safe allows you to concentrate on the task at-hand without worrying about pickpockets or seedy hotel staff.
They come in a variety of sizes, so you can choose the one that best fits everything you want to keep safe.
Collapsible Water Bottle
Carrying a collapsible water bottle with you is one of the simplest, but most satisfying things you can do! It solves 2 main problems: (1) avoid thirst distraction, (2) stay hydrated.
Why collapsible? Because it fits better into a backpack pocket, and can quickly be filled it up before you head out for the day to stay nice and hydrated (just not too much!).
Gas / Food Giftcards
Family research is tiring, engrossing work. We often find ourselves looking for “just 1 more record” for hours without remembering to eat! Dining giftcards are a great way to ensure the family researcher in your life stays properly fed. Once they start heading outside their homes, gas cards quickly become another great gift with huge benefits.
Roadside Assistance
Eventually every family researcher will hit the road to find more answers to those pesky genealogy questions. Whether it’s visiting research centers, local churches and gravesites, or taking a roadtrip in search of a family reunion, peace of mind when it comes to our vehicles is a huge benefit. CAA/AAA or the equivalent in your country ensures roadsiode assistance is always at-hand.
4. Home Storage
With all of the effort we give to researching, organizing and digitizing our historical documents, it’s super impotrant that we take the time to properly store that material. Nobody wants their hard work slowly disintegrating over time!
Gaylord Archival is one of the leaders in everything you’ll even need for this purpose, but their minimum order requirements not always practical for those of us living outside the United States, so here are some other options …
Archival Boxes
The first thing everyone needs is somewhere to store all of those great documents we find, but not just any box will do! Make sure those boxes are of archival quality so you’re not doing any harm to those aging papers.
Archival boxes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect one (or ones!) to best suite your storage needs.
Cotton Gloves
If you’re like me, you can’t help but want to take out those research documents or family photographs and comb through them for additional discoveries, or just to hold a fascinating piece of history in your hands. However, as with our storage decisions, it’s important to ensure we’re not inadvertantly harming those documents when we do!
Cotton gloves are important to ensure that the oils from our hands are not harming those important original documents and photographs.
File Folders
Not every piece of paper we come across in our research needs the archival treatment. Infact, many of our documents will be photocopies of originals, or handwritten notes that we’ve taken. EVen if you try to stay as digitized as possible (like i do), you’ll still find ties where paper jusy makes more sense. All of that important paperwork needs to be stored somewhere!
File Boxes are a great way to store everything while staying organized. You can use file folders and tabs to easily find evetything in your collection.
D-Ring Binder & Archival Sheets
Not everyone wants to store everything in boxes, and sometimes binder storage just makes more sense. As with everything else on this list, archival quality storage is the name of the game. Make sure you pick binders and insert pages that are both satisfying your storage needs and of archival quality.
There’s just something to be said about a shelf of binders calling out to you for more research!
Archival Office Supplies (Pens, Labels, etc)
With all of that effort we’ve put into correctly handling and storing our important photos and documents, we don’t want to ruin them with an errant pen mark!
Archival pens and other office supplies will make sure that even when we need to write names on those unknown photos or flag a specific page in a document, we’re doing so with future preservation in mind.
Posterjack
Digitizing our family photos and documents is great, but what about those super special pieces in our collection that deserve to be on display?
With Posterjack you can start displaying display those incredible memories today! Posterjack provides all the best printing and framing options for the best prices around … and a superquick turnaround.
5. Bonuses!
Here are a few other great gift ideas that your family historian will thank you for.
I know I briefly mentioned Ancestry.com and MyHeritage already, but the importance of having one or both of these memberships can’t be overstated, so i’m including them here … again!
Life’s QR
Familty researchers will invariably have a lot of valuable information in their collection, and they’ll do their best to share it with anyone who wants to know more. However, Life’s QR has taken that a step further and provided a way for us to share our ancestral stories with many others who may be curious.
Life’s QR provides a service where anyone can create a memorial for someone who has passed on, and attach it to their gravesite with a weatherproof QR code. This allows anyone walking by to use that code to see the stories, photos, and even videos you’ve curated about your loved one … keeping their memory alive indefintely!
Billion Graves
There are a few websites available that provide a platform for users to search the resting places of their ancestors; however, Billion Graves has quickly become my favourite!
Billion Graves is a free website (with a paid upgrade) that allows users to take, upload, and transcribe photos of gravesites. That may not sound unique, and it’s not … the power of Billion Graves lies in their mandate that you must take photos using their app so they know the GPS coordinates of the memorial you’re submitting.
Why is this important? If you’re like me, wasting time wondering around a cemetery hoping to stumble upon an ancestor who may (or may not!) be buried there gets old fast. By providing GPS coordinates, users can easily find the memorial they’re looking for, and see who may also be buried nearby!
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com boasts “the world’s largest collection of online family history records” that continues to grow. They also have partnerships with several other genealogy services. These partnerships often give Ancestry.com exclusive rights to provide those collections to their users.
It should be noted that most of these records will be protected behind a subscription pay-wall, though are occassionally available for free during promotional periods.
MyHeritage.com
MyHeritage sports their own huge international records database. Though not quite as large as Ancestry.com, they have their own ever-expanding, exclusive content and partnerships. Most of these records will also be protected behind a pay-wall.
MyHeritage has combined genealogy research with the ability to easily share photos and stories with your family members. They’ve also partnered with photo enhancement companies to allow you to enhance, colourize, or even animate your photos all at the click of a button!
So there you have it the Most Unique Gift Ideas for Family Researchers!
I’m always on the lookout for new gift ideas, so I’d love to know if you have something great that I didn’t cover! Please let me know in the comments below.
I love the Family Tree Maker. I was thinking of making a trip fund and just treating the kids and their families to a holiday getaway next year. Maybe it will become a tradition.
Wow that’s so an adorable gift to buy for the family. Thanks for sharing
These are some great and unique gift ideas for family researchers! I always struggle to find the perfect gift for my genealogy enthusiast friend, but this article has given me some great ideas to consider. I particularly like the idea of memberships to Permanent and Forever for digital storage that will last a lifetime. It’s also nice to see a platform like Collectionaire that is specifically designed for sharing and archiving family history content.
Solis Hot Spot is very nice. I have one. Thanks
Very cool, great ideas, and some of these are new ideas to me. I will keep these on a list for future reference.
Hhhhmmm….I need something for my storage at home. I’m having lots of clothes and writings to store away. Thanks for these ideas.