Linda Coffin

Linda Coffin

When Linda went through the experience of sorting and emptying her elderly parents' long-time home, it was a defining moment for her. She was already interested in family history and genealogy, but losing the family home, losing her father, and losing many family stories that will never be recaptured gave Linda a mission to help preserve the stories of others. Now Linda works with clients to help preserve and share their stories. In 2012, Linda was named Executive Director of the Association of Personal Historians. Visit Linda at: HistoryCrafters

Author Archives: Linda Coffin

2015 APH Conference: Historical Research 101

Genealogists and personal historians have a lot to learn from each other. The first thing a personal historian should realize is that genealogy isn’t just about family data. It’s also about finding clues to stories hidden in the historical record. For instance, trolling through the census might uncover a hidden story. Why was Henry listed as the elder… Read More »

20 Reasons Why You Should Write Your Family History: #11 Family histories humanize and remember

Have you ever looked at a photograph of an ancestor and formed a strong impression of who they probably were? Do you really know if your impression is accurate? The existence of a memoir or family history may tell that person’s story in a way that opens up and expands on what you know about their personality and… Read More »

Make Family History a ‘Treasure Hunt’ for Kids

Family history is one of the most popular hobbies among American adults today. Most amateur genealogists regret that they didn’t start earlier, “when Grandpa was still alive” or “before Mom’s memory began to fail.” They worry that their careful research will go to waste because younger generations don’t see the point of learning about people “who are already… Read More »

Genealogy and personal history: A partnership waiting to happen

Genealogists and personal historians have a lot in common, but they don’t know it. Instead they have a tendency to distance themselves from each other. Personal historians, who interview individuals and families to record their stories, may think that genealogists care about nothing but dates and places that relate to dead people. Genealogists, who document family history through… Read More »