When you spend months or years tracing your lineage, the final step is often the most rewarding: turning that digital data into a physical heirloom. Creating a custom family tree book or a large-format wall chart allows you to share your discoveries with relatives and preserve your heritage for future generations. These physical records transform names and dates into a tangible story that can be displayed at reunions or passed down through your family.
Choosing Between Books and Charts
Before you begin the design process, you must decide how you want to present your research. The two most popular formats are large-format wall charts and professionally bound genealogy books. Each serves a different purpose and offers a unique way to visualize your history.
Wall charts provide an immediate, high-impact visual of your entire family structure. They are ideal for displaying at home or bringing to family gatherings. Because they can be printed in large sizes—often several feet wide—they allow you to see many generations at once without flipping pages. This format is perfect for those who want to see the “big picture” of their ancestry.
Genealogy books, on the other hand, allow for a much deeper dive into the lives of your ancestors. Books can include detailed biographies, copies of historical documents, maps, and high-resolution photographs. If your research includes many stories, letters, and anecdotal evidence, a book is the best way to ensure those narratives are preserved alongside the data.
Organizing Your Research for Print
The quality of your printed project depends entirely on the organization of your data. Most genealogists use software to track their findings. To move from software to a printed product, you should ensure your records are clean and standardized. Most professional printing services and design tools require a GEDCOM file, which is the universal file format for genealogical data.
Verify Every Detail
Before you hit print, perform a thorough audit of your family tree. Check for spelling consistency in names and locations. Ensure that dates are formatted the same way throughout the document (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY or Month DD, YYYY). Small errors become very noticeable once they are printed on a large chart or in a bound book.
Gather High-Resolution Media
If you are creating a book or a chart with photos, image quality is vital. Images pulled from social media or low-resolution scans often appear blurry or pixelated when printed. Aim for scans of at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) for books and even higher for large wall charts. If a photo is old and damaged, consider using digital restoration tools to clean up scratches or fading before including it in your layout.
Selecting a Chart Style
If you choose to create a wall chart, you have several layout options. The right style depends on which branch of the family you want to highlight and how many generations you wish to include.
- Pedigree Charts: These focus on a single individual and trace their direct ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.) backward in time.
- Descendant Charts: These start with an ancestral couple and show all of their children, grandchildren, and subsequent generations. These are excellent for family reunions.
- Fan Charts: These display ancestors in a semi-circle or full circle. They are visually striking and very efficient at showing many generations in a compact space.
- Hourglass Charts: These place a central individual or couple in the middle, showing both their ancestors above them and their descendants below them.
Designing Your Family History Book
Creating a book is a larger undertaking that requires more attention to layout and flow. A well-organized family history book typically follows a logical structure to keep the reader engaged. You might choose to organize chapters by specific family branches or by chronological eras.
Essential Book Elements
Every professional genealogy book should include a Table of Contents and a comprehensive Index of Names. The index is particularly important for family members who want to quickly find where they or their direct ancestors appear in the text. You should also include a preface that explains your research methods and any brick walls you encountered.
Consider using a mix of narrative text and data tables. While raw data is important, the stories of how your ancestors lived, worked, and migrated are what make the book interesting to the average reader. Use sidebars to explain the historical context of the time, such as what life was like during the Great Depression or a specific war your ancestors fought in.
Printing and Binding Considerations
Once your design is complete, you need to choose the right materials to ensure longevity. Genealogy records are meant to last for decades, if not centuries, so the quality of the paper and ink is paramount.
Paper Quality
Always opt for acid-free, archival-quality paper. Standard paper can yellow and become brittle over time due to its acid content. For wall charts, consider heavy-weight bond paper or even canvas if you want a more durable, decorative finish. For books, a semi-gloss or high-quality matte paper works best for reproducing photographs clearly.
Binding Options
For books, the binding style affects both the look and the durability. Hardcover library binding (also known as case binding) is the most durable option and gives the book a professional, timeless feel. Softcover binding (perfect binding) is more cost-effective and suitable for smaller family projects or shorter booklets. If you want the book to stay open easily for reference, consider a spiral or wire-o binding, though these are less formal.
Preparing for Large-Format Printing
Printing a chart that is 24, 36, or even 48 inches wide requires specific file preparation. Most professional printers prefer a PDF file with all fonts embedded. This ensures that the layout you see on your screen is exactly what comes out of the printer. When designing, pay attention to “bleed” areas—the edges of the paper that might be trimmed. Keep important text and faces at least half an inch away from the edge to avoid accidental cropping.
Conclusion
Creating a custom family tree book or chart is the ultimate way to honor your ancestors and share your hard work with your living relatives. By carefully organizing your data, selecting high-quality images, and choosing archival-grade materials, you create a legacy piece that will be cherished for generations. Whether you display a massive fan chart on your wall or gift a beautifully bound history book to your children, these physical records bring your family’s history to life. For more tips on preserving your family records and navigating digital genealogy tools, explore our other guides on home organization and document preservation.