Valentine’s Day isn’t just for the here and now—it’s a bridge to the past. Behind every name on your family tree, there lies a love story. This month, why not delve into the romantic history of your lineage? How did your grandparents meet? What love letters were exchanged under the watchful eye of a world at war? And what photos were exchanged as reminders of that love?

Take a moment to gather these love tales. Write them, record them, and honor the journeys of passion—and sometimes sorrow—that have woven the fabric of your family. If you’re seeking inspiration, ask your elders while you still can. Let the love stories of your ancestors be the heartbeat of your family’s history this February. Unfortunately, no one saved the story behind this photo of Charlie and Marnie, and it ended up in a photo sale. The lack of identifiers–place and surname–make reuniting with family challenging.  Don’t let this happen to your photos!

Start by recording your photo stories. 

• Use your smartphone’s built-in recorder. 
• Recording is now available in genealogy apps like MyHeritage.com and Ancestry.com. Both allow you to link the image and the recording. 
• Your photo organizer might offer recording capabilities such as FileShadow.com 
• Or use a stand-alone app like StoryGlory.com, which is available in the Apple app store.  Listen to their story on The Photo Detective podcast. 

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