Family History Journal
Social Science/History | Registration opens 1/5/2026 10:00 AM MST (Arizona)
How are you making history? Duane Roen will discuss keeping a diary or journal to record and reflect on our daily activities. Duane will begin the session by talking about the daily journal that he has kept with his wife, Maureen. Together they have written more than 19,000 pages as they have captured family stories to pass down to future generations. Participants will write a journal entry (so please bring paper and pen or a laptop). Participants will be
invited to share their writing with the group. In turn, the group will be encouraged to offer constructive feedback that will help writers develop their writing further.
Duane Roen
Roen, Duane - has been tracing his roots since his teenage years, building a database with more than 32,000 ancestors. He and his wife, Maureen Roen, have also been recording their family history since 1978 by writing more than 19,000 daily journal entries on their children and other family members. Combining his professional and personal interests, Duane worked with colleagues to establish courses on writing and recording family history at Arizona State University. He also is founding coordinator of the Project for Writing and Recording Family History in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at ASU.