A Gift From Siblings, Children, or Colleagues
Unlike an engraved watch or plaque that marks only the workplace, a custom family history book honors the person’s entire heritage: the trades their ancestors practiced over two hundred years, the towns they left behind, and the life they built.
For a colleague or retiring partner, our numbered Commissioning Certificate (ready within 48 hours) lets the retiree embark on the archival journey with our historians at their own pace.
How Retirement Commissions Work
- Complimentary 48-hour archival check. Share a few family names or request a Commissioning Certificate in the retiree’s name.
- Collaborative three-round review. The retiree or family reviews the illustrated digital proof over three rounds before hardcover binding.
What Every Commission Includes
- Complimentary 48-hour feasibility study: Before you pay a dollar, we verify what the US and European archives contain for your family and send a written chapter plan and firm quote.
- Primary-source archival research: US Federal Censuses, passenger arrival manifests, military draft and service files, and European civil and parish registers.
- Custom literary narrative & hardcover binding: Choose either the Ancestor Portrait (from $590, 28 to 40 pages) or the Lineage Edition (from $1,690, 45 to 70 pages), delivered with tracked air shipping to the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
01Can a group of colleagues or family members pool together for a retirement commission?
Yes. Many retirement gifts are funded jointly by a team or by adult children, either as an Ancestor Portrait ($590) or a full Lineage Edition ($1,690).