How to Create a Family Oral History

Member

By Rob McKelvie
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (4 Ratings)

Three generations of one family

Oral histories predate writing. Oral stories and traditions infused cultures with their history and folk wisdom and sometimes still do today. In modern times oral history has become a formal addition to the toolkit of historians. For our purpose, however, we want to focus only on the creation of family oral histories to enrich the understanding and appreciation of our existing family members. Creating a family oral history is a way to preserve priceless yet very perishable memories of families and their individual members as they age. Photos and scrapbooks can be immeasurably enhanced by the addition of audio and video interviews and presentations.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Motivation
Time
Reliable Recording Equipment
Relatives

Step 1

The first step is to make a rough plan with goals, responsibilities, and timetables. Who needs to be interviewed first because of age or risk of memory loss? Who will do the interviewing? How will it be recorded? How many copies will be made and who will preserve them? You’ll need to discuss your family oral history ideas and plans with other family members or friends. Someone will need to be the project leader to make sure that the important tasks do get accomplished.
Step 2

The next step would be to prepare the interview guides or questionnaires. These should be designed both to elicit key facts that may not be documented anywhere and to explore important experiences that the interviewee would like to share and get on the record. For the most part, though, the interview should try to let natural stories emerge. Stories are the substance of family oral history. Please see the Resources section for links to valuable processes and procedures for gathering oral histories.
Step 3

The third step involves implementation, actually conducting and recording the family oral history interview. The initial aim is to establish a comfortable rapport and level of trust with the relative being interviewed. Multiple recording devices should be used in case of equipment or battery failure. You may only get one chance at the interview! Take breaks when needed to keep both parties comfortable and fresh. Multiple interviews could be necessary.
Step 4

After an interview is completed copies need to be made of the records. Ideally, you would have both audio and video digital recordings. Make copies of both to distribute to selected family members for enjoyment and preservation.
Step 5

Step 5
Another way to develop family oral histories is to do one at the end of each year when families get together for the holidays. Each family member could be called on each year to sum up his or her key happenings that year along with plans and hopes for the New Year. Absent members could email their record in or be recorded via phone. These annual records could later be supplemented by in-depth interviews of family members once they retired.
Step 6

Speaking of emails, family historians may want to ask for selected emails from each family member that characterizes their work or leisure activities or family communications. This also could be done annually.
Step 7

Most of us are too busy to plan and implement these history capturing strategies. But they should be discussed among families. Perhaps someone will be inspired enough to make it happen!

Comments

blingaling said

Flag This Comment

on 1/21/2009 Very thorough article with a good step-by-step plan. It is a lot of work to do these oral histories, but what a gift to the descendants! My grandmother, who lived to be 109, wrote a book about her very interesting life for the family. I treasure it, especially now that she is gone.

Foxility said

on 1/17/2009 Love this, thanks for the info.

00Analana said

on 1/17/2009 This is a fantastic idea! Recording your family's thoughts and experiences in their own voices is such a priceless gift to pass down to future generations.