Why an Olzon Family Website?

Posted by Mary Ann Robertus on February 12, 2007

I can't even remember the exact date my son Jim and I were discussing a possible website for me. The idea grew from our discussions over a memory. After Grandma Holtgrewe died, Grandpa was getting rid of things. He had boxes of pictures. The day he gave them to me he said, "I know you will take care of these and get them organized."

Twenty years later, in the 1980's, we started the Olzon reunions where many of us could share pictures of our ancestors. My mom organized some of them into a photo album, and I dug through the boxes. But still, we could only share them for the brief period of time at the reunion.

Jim had a project due for school which entailed a report on his ancestry. The information and pictures from Grandpa Holtgrewe and the reunions were of great help to us. I wondered how many of my cousins were also faced with these types of projects for their children. And I thought of the information I had in boxes.

I had heard of other families that put a book together. I considered this idea; however, putting a book together, publishing it, and distributing it seemed like such a big undertaking, and costly.

Now it's the 21st Century and the internet has blossomed into a tool that more and more of my generation and beyond have become so familiar with that it is a daily part of our lives. A website could be a way to "write the book." Jim agreed and OlzonFamily.com was launched.

I admit, I have information on Anna Olzon's sisters and parents that are not included, but we had to start with what seemed the best considering the growth potential of the website. In fact, it became more of a project than Jim had envisioned. Now that I have learned a little about web design, and created my own website (www.mytrixie.com), I understand a little more of his frustrations when he would say, "You want to add what?" Thanks, Jim, for continuing.

OlzonFamily.com has changed over the years, and Jim has revamped it to what you see when you log onto it today. I am glad the site was created. I am hoping it will be of value to all of you. I am very happy and proud of OlzonFamily.com. It is the fulfillment of a promise I made over 40 years ago to "take care of the pictures."