Stories in Our Care is a family history archive documenting the Appel/Backe family’s journey from Germany to Brooklyn and the Smith/Halversen family’s roots in Norway and Wisconsin. Created to preserve family stories and help younger generations understand how family life has changed over time, the site brings together family trees, historical accounts, and source documents. Visitors can explore the Appel/Backe family tree and use a guide to navigate it; the Smith/Halversen tree is described as coming soon.

The archive presents historical material without modernizing the language of original documents, and it provides citations and links to sources when available. Its introductory notes acknowledge the social advantages that made it possible for the compiler to document these histories, including access to education, housing, and literacy. The site also distinguishes historical voices from contemporary family commentary where possible, invites readers to ask questions about unclear passages, and notes that published information may be updated