Discovered something awful that my dead father did, should I share with my family?

[Black51]

My elderly father died earlier this year. I have since discovered some official letters in his desk saying that when he was a young teacher he was banned from teaching due to sexually abusing some of his male pupils (in the 1950's). I have taken the paperwork away. Please let me know whether I should share this information with my mum and brothers, destroy the paperwork, or keep it private. I don't know what the best thing is to do here.

Did anything whilst he was alive that poster means.

I can't imagine how the OP is supposed to continue her life and maintain family relationships whilst carrying the burden of this knowledge alone.

You expect her to disguise her trauma and emotions to play the role of loving , grieving daughter in order to spare the feelings of her brothers? To mark anniversaries and join in with sharing memories of a man she know knows had an abhorrent history none of them were aware of?

The potential damage for the OP is enormous. Of course she can seek counselling to help her deal with the knowledge and support her telling her brothers, but asking her to live a lie is beyond me.

And that's before considering the possibility of living victims. There may be family members who have never disclosed abuse because they didn't think they'd be believed. Knowing there is proof elsewhere could be key to someone's recovery and wellbeing.

And what do you mean by "so called secret"?