From the Publisher
Whether you have just a passing interest in genealogy and family history or are one of the millions of people seriously researching their roots, "The Ark to the Future" - the time capsule you don't have to bury- is a fascinating and invaluable tool that will allow you to:
- Preserve your family history - Intimately communicate with future generations - Connect your ancestors, your children, and your children's children with the unique Rooted Family Tree - Send these items and other precious heirlooms to the future in the safety of a beautiful molded metal time capsule-exquisitely produced to last far into the next century
From the Author
Several years ago I came upon a cache of family documents. The timing was particularly fortunate because I had recently endured some personal family tragedies that were in some ways connected to our history. Amazingly, here were revealed secrets that had been hidden for the last fifty years, traveled to five different locations, and been deposited in my hands at the exact moment I most needed it. It was truly a "family time capsule", and it had a profound effect on my life, as well as on others in my family. But it wasn't just the words that had an impact. The smell and touch of these items seemed to magically transport me back to another time, and brought to life people I had never met, or not seen since my childhood. For years I wanted to recreate this powerful experience, but it wasn't until I discussed it with my friend and colleague, Joost Elffers, that it began to take shape, and eventually became The Ark to the Future.
We decided to create a time capsule that would not be buried, but instead, like the contemporary family, travel wherever future events took it. It would be sealed however, made of sturdy metal, and would contain images, items and documents of a highly personal nature. Unlike traditional time capsules, it may be opened in a relatively short time (but not less than 25 years), and contributed to by future family members. It is intended that the process of creating the Ark will encourage communication, and through the use of the Rooted Family Tree, reveal the inescapable connections that link us to the people in our past and future.
Frankly, The Ark became something far more powerful than envisioned at the start, and thanks to Joost Elffers, a beautiful objet d'art. It is our hope that we have created a work that is unique and enduring, and will enhance the lives of many families for generations to come.
