The Soo Line Historical Society is asking city residents to submit their family histories along with photos to be a part of the museum's archives of families who have lived in the city.

The historical society received a heritage grant from Hudson's Bay Company for the heritage project, and the museum is now looking for histories from both current and former city residents.

The family history can include what brought the family to Weyburn, how long they were here and what businesses or groups they were involved with here, said Jacquie Mallory, curator-manager of the Soo Line Museum.

The submissions should be typed, as it will be stored in the archives for research purposes, and photos will need to be kept by the museum.

Mallory noted as the RM is doing their own history book, submissions should only be from city residents.

"Any help from the public would be appreciated. It would help people who are doing research on family histories; we're losing so much of our own history," she said, adding the museum often fields many inquiries from people who ask about relatives who used to live here, and many times the museum just doesn't have any information on them.

There is no deadline for histories, but the museum will have to make a report in November of their progress, and Mallory said they would like to be able to note some progress in collecting family stories by that time.

"I would also love to have a grant to do research on the old homes in Weyburn; we also get a lot of questions about those. People go to the city and sometimes can't find out anything," added Mallory.

The museum has also received a grant to put the history of Souris Valley on-line; this nine-month project is through a federal grant that included new computer equipment. Research into this history has begun, and interviews will be sought with former workers and residents of Souris Valley.

"This is a big undertaking," said Mallory, indicating both staff and volunteers from the historical society are basically doing the work for it.