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Suggested Website Layout for McCreary Family Heritage

Based on the personas identified, here is a recommended structure that organizes content to serve the most frequent visitors while remaining accessible to all users:

Primary Navigation Structure

Home

About This Site

Introduction to McCreary Heritage

An overview of the Scotch-Irish McCreary families, the surname origins and variations, and what visitors can expect to learn from the site.

Family History & Genealogy

This section serves the largest expected audience - family genealogists. Include documented family lines, surname spelling variations, major family branches, genealogical resources, DNA research guidance, and tips for connecting to McCreary ancestry. Feature downloadable family trees, links to relevant archives, and guidance on breaking through research brick walls.

Historical Timeline & Context

A chronological journey through McCreary family history set against major historical events. Cover life in Scotland, the Ulster Plantation in Ireland, religious and political conflicts, and the Great Migration to North America. This serves both educators and students with clear, dated milestones and connections to broader historical movements.

Geography & Settlement Patterns

Interactive and static maps showing where McCreary families originated in Scotland, settled in Ireland (particularly Ulster), and migrated to in North America. Include information about the landscape, climate, and physical environment of these regions. Feature before-and-after comparisons and explanations of why certain locations were chosen. This serves geographic researchers, heritage tourists, and genealogists trying to locate ancestral lands.

Heritage Tourism Guide

Practical information for visiting McCreary-related sites in Scotland and Ireland. Include specific locations (churches, graveyards, townlands, estates), travel tips, recommended itineraries, local heritage centers and museums, and guidance on accessing local records. Provide photographs of sites as they appear today alongside historical context.

Educational Resources

Materials specifically designed for teachers and students. Include lesson plans, primary source documents with analysis guides, discussion questions, timelines suitable for classroom use, and connections to curriculum standards. Offer downloadable materials and suggestions for student projects. Feature age-appropriate content summaries and citation guidance.

Culture & Traditions

Explore Scotch-Irish cultural heritage through the McCreary family lens. Cover language, music, foodways, religious practices (particularly Presbyterian traditions), crafts, folklore, and how these traditions evolved as families migrated. Include stories that illustrate daily life, celebrations, and community practices.

Research & Scholarship

Academic resources including bibliographies, primary source locations and archives, methodological notes on genealogical verification, historiographical context, opportunities for collaboration, and invitations to contribute research. This serves academic researchers and serious local historians with the rigor they require.

Stories & Biographies

Individual narratives that bring history to life. Feature profiles of notable McCreary family members, ordinary people whose lives illustrate historical themes, first-person accounts, letters and diaries, and oral histories. These human stories engage all personas but are particularly valuable for educators looking for compelling classroom material.

Glossary

Resources

Comprehensive list of external resources including archives, libraries, genealogical databases, historical societies, relevant books and articles, DNA testing services, and related websites.

Contact

Consider organizing the main navigation menu to prioritize the most frequently accessed sections:

  • Place "Family History & Genealogy" prominently in the navigation since genealogists are expected to be the largest visitor group
  • Make "Educational Resources" easily discoverable with clear labeling for teachers and students
  • Use descriptive menu labels that clearly indicate what each section contains
  • Consider a prominent search function since visitors will have diverse, specific needs
  • Include visual cues or icons to help visitors quickly identify relevant sections
  • Provide multiple pathways to content (chronological, geographical, topical) to accommodate different research approaches

This structure balances the needs of casual learners, serious researchers, and everyone in between while maintaining a logical flow that tells the comprehensive story of McCreary family heritage.