Adding pictures and maps to your family histories will make them much more memorable. But, you say, you don't have any photos of your ancestors? Try the Library of Congress.

I'm not suggesting that you'll find a portrait of your great-grandfather in the online Library of Congress database, but you may find other types of historical images to give depth to your genealogy. On the website (www.loc.gov/) you'll see "Collection Highlights." Click on "Prints and Photographs Online Catalog" and see what you find.

For example, was your great-grandfather in the Civil War? There are over 1200 tintype photographs of Union and Confederate soldiers in the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs (so maybe you will find your ancestor...). That's just one tiny, but intriguing, example of what's available in the LOC collection. There are countless images of people, places and events that might fit your family history, like the pencil sketch at right entitled "Sharpshooters 18th Corps." The LOC description gives details about the artist, when the image was created, and the historical event depicted. And the best part? Most of the images may be downloaded free for your personal use. The description of the sharpshooter image pictured here states "No known restrictions on publication."  

Maps are another image that can bring your story to life. Below is a 1909 atlas for Jerauld County, South Dakota, where I grew up. The image was retrieved from the "Maps" section of the LOC website. In the northwestern corner of the county one can see Marlar Township - and if you enlarge the map enough - Section 33, where I lived until I was 15 years old. My parents didn't purchase the farm until nearly 40 years after this map was published. However I recognize the family named "Groub" (pronounced "Grub") who were the prior owners. Seeing the surname led me to spend several hours searching their family history, but that's a story for another time.