How Do You Create A Family Oral History?
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. 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 othe
