Record My Past

If you answer yes to any of the following questions…we can help!

Do you or a family member have a personal story, family anecdotes, or information about your ancestry that you would like documented?

Would you like some research help to get you going on your family tree or do you need some fact-checking done on the information you already have?

Have you or a family member amassed years of research, images and stories about your ancestry, and have it in a vague semblance of order, but don’t know quite what to do with it next?

Have you written a memoir, family history or biography but need help with the next steps – editing, design and printing?

Products

We are able to tailor our services to suit your particular needs, with the following options covering most requirements. Although the processes of researching, interviewing, writing, editing, collating, designing and printing are similar for each project, the final cost depends on a number of variables, including the depth of research and content collation time, interview length, the format of the publication etc.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your options.

Your 'living' narrative

This could either be a series of personal or family memories or anecdotes, a personal life history or a combined family story. The end product might range from a small soft cover booklet to a larger hard cover book with photos. The aim is to capture and future-proof the individual voice and stories of the narrator as a legacy for future generations.

Curating existing material

This option suits where you and/or a family member have already researched, recorded and collected material and would like help to organise, fact-check, edit or write it up. The material might consist of family history research, a draft memoir, a personal story, or a series of anecdotes. The end product depends on the desired outcome and target audience.

Family history project

This is more likely to be a large long-term project incorporating the collection, research and curation of information and documentation about a family’s history. It might involve family tree research, stories, anecdotes about that family’s story or history, charts, maps, photographs, old letters etc. The end product is usually a hard cover coffee-table style book.

Pricing

Pricing is based on hourly rates which vary according to the type and complexity of the service and product choices. Projects can usually be tailored to suit most budgets and we are more than happy to discuss your requirements by email, in person or over the phone.

Testimonials

“Philippa Shelley Jones was engaged to assist with an unedited draft of a family history document for the Peacock family. Philippa did an excellent job, thoroughly reviewing the timeline and logic of the text in conjunction with a family tree chart. She spotted and corrected errors and made the story flow much more smoothly. As well as her technical eye for dates, places, names and other content, Philippa suggested an improved style. I was pleased with this proactive suggestion and Philippa then applied it consistently throughout the document.

Philippa is a talented editor with a passion for families telling their stories. She played a valuable role in the readability and accuracy of my family history. I am pleased to recommend her services and outcomes.“

— John

“This is a project I have been thinking about for a while and meeting up with Philippa has motivated me. And now with her expertise the job is done. She has been very generous with her time and has communicated well. I have learned new family information along the way to make the exercise very interesting. It has been a pleasure and I now have a copy of my story for each of my children.”

— Ellyn

“I can highly recommend Philippa Shelley Jones. She is efficient, skilled and a delight to work with when researching family history, sorting information, producing family charts and trees and then creating a book or file to keep and share with the family.”

— Frances