Preserving family history isn't a luxury

[William Douglas]

When you think about it, family truly is everything. When times are good, we want to celebrate with those who mean the most to us. When the daily grind is over, it's family that we come home to. If times are tough, it’s the comforting support of family that we crave. And at the end, it’s family we wish to have by our side. So much of who we are and what we achieve stems from our ancestors; it's natural to turn to family because it's simply in our nature.

Preserving family history isn't a luxury—it's a necessity! Without our efforts, the precious letters, diaries, scrapbooks, and photographs of the past could be lost forever.

In the 1950s, beautiful family homes were being demolished to make way for newer and cheaper alternatives. By the 1970s, it was clear that these homes should have been saved. That's where the Douglas Archives come in, rescuing and preserving the parts of our family heritage that are at risk.

We all use yesterday’s history to make sense of today’s world. Understanding family history helps us navigate modern family life in this increasingly complex world.

Our work involves researching family histories, recording our findings, and maintaining an interactive online family tree. This tree serves as the framework for our families’ stories, encompassing both their triumphs and tribulations.

We collect, maintain, and preserve historical data about family members and their lives, much of which is generously donated by family members and friends. Data from many valuable artefacts, such as books, papers, and photographs, are entrusted to us by donors who are relieved to find a safe home for their treasured memories.

While some private information is password-protected, most of the Douglas Archives website is open to everyone and free of charge. We are dedicated to assisting any serious researcher in their endeavors. In fact, we have already contributed to several publications.