Today my maternal grandmother, May Catherine Rasmussen Clark, would have been 127 years old. She was my first piano teacher and her home was always warm and inviting–filled with homemade bread, hand-crafted toys, and the smell of fresh linen. For much of my young life, my siblings and I could walk from our house to her house in just a few minutes. While there, we loved playing board games with grandpa while we waited for our turn to nestle close to grandma on the piano bench to learn what she and John Thompson wanted us to know. When Grandma May’s birthday falls on Mother’s Day as it did today, it makes celebrating her life even more symbolic and meaningful. As I think back on the memories I have with both of my grandmothers, I feel a sense of belonging and security that I hope my grandchildren will feel when they think back on their memories with me. Remembering the past often takes a bit of mind jogging, but there are so many ways to enhance that process. One idea found in the activities section of The Family History Guide is to create a Time Capsule together as a family (Family Activities F3-01). This activity includes a link to Activity #15 on the Make History Website with step-by-step suggestions for finding and placing physical objects into your time capsule to spark stories, memories, and thoughts to “help the hazy past turn into a tactile reality.” The suggestions include gathering photos, letters, and artifacts with these steps in mind:

Step 1: Decide who your audience is. Who do you want to open this time capsule? You? Your kids? Your Grandkids? Your intended audience will affect what you include in your capsule. 

Step 2: Gather items such as: –

-A letter to your future self about what you think you do, where you think you will live, and what you have hoped you have done.

– The front page of today’s newspaper

– Music from your favorite band

– Photos: a picture of you, your family, your room,

– A coin or form of currency from this year

– A list of goals you want to achieve by the time you open the capsule

– A piece of clothing or jewelry. (In case this does become forgotten over time don’t include anything too valuable or irreplaceable.) 

– A piece of current technology – again, nothing irreplaceable.

– A handwritten letter from your parent or grandparent to your future self 

Step 3: Choose a container 

Choose a container that will last the longest in your chosen hiding spot. Metal cans work really well or a sturdy shoebox. Fill your container and seal it with duct tape or, if doing a metal can, you can take it be sealed at a cannery. 

Step 4: Mark on the time capsule the date you want it opened. 

Step 5: Take a photo of your time capsule and tag @makefamilyhistory @timecapsule 

Step 6: Store your time capsule in a safe or secret place. 

Especially for grandparents:

An article entitled “Do Your Grandchildren Really Know You?” by the editors of  Grandparents.com suggests creating a time capsule that starts with a conversation. They have a downloadable Memories interview sheet that you can use to share your memories side-by-side with your grandchild (or child, niece, or nephew). You and each grandchild have the opportunity to answer each question in the space provided on the sheet. They advise to “stash the sheet (or sheets) in your memory capsule and fill it with other objects like toys, drawings, photos, newspaper clippings, or baseball cards. Decide how long your capsule will stay closed — maybe five, 10, or more years — and finally, before you seal it up, write each other a secret letter that can’t be read until the tube is opened.”

More ideas: 

Time capsules are a great way to preserve family history, make memories while creating it, and a way to commemorate time spent together with loved ones. Check out more activities on the activity pages of The Family History Guide for making and preserving memories with your children, grandchildren, and other family members, and implement those that fit your needs to reap rewards now and in the future. Your legacy will affect generations! Find suggestions and help in The Family History Guide “Memory” Projects for FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast. It will be worth your efforts many times over, and so much fun!

See also:

Leaving Your Legacy  (Ancestry blog post)

Learn the science of preservation through making a time capsule in this article o the American Library Association Website

Learn why every family needs a time capsule on the Southtree website