It used to be that our family stories and history were passed down from generation to generation. That was back when we had time to sit down and talk, though. Today, despite the wonders of technology many people regret not having asked their parents and grandparents before them what the family was like and what they did “back in the day”:

I wish I’d interviewed my grandparents and recorded some of their stories before they died. One grandfather worked in the Roosevelt administration and entered Germany with the first Allied troops right after World War II ended. My grandmother graduated from college at a time when few women received more than a high school education. I can still clearly remember the sound of my grandparents’ voices, but I’ve forgotten many of the stories they told me. I wish I’d asked more questions before it was too late.

I’m lucky that I grew up in a time where my mother and my grandmother did tell me stories, but as an only child, I was kind of a captive audience. I’m glad now, though. I try to impart these stories to my kids, but I don’t really know how I’m doing.

The end of summer is a popular time for family reunions with all the generations and a great time to reminisce. When you want to record family stories, there’s “no time like the present”, so how do you get started?

An oral history is simply the systematic collection of people’s experiences told by them, and there’s a few things to do in preparation:

1. Create a list of questions and topics, and give the interviewee an idea of what you’ll be asking to assess if they are comfortable with the topics.
2. Decide what equipment you ‘ll be using (audio only? video?). Though it doesn’t have to be fancy, make sure it works and that you know how to use it beforehand.
3. Start each recording with who, what, where and when you are interviewing.
4. Use a mix of open ended questions to get stories and other questions to elicit facts.
5. Practice ways to elicit more information if an answer needs elaboration (”Tell me more” or, “Could you explain that in more detail?”)
6. Start with less personal or probing questions and move toward more intense questions.
7. Be aware that the interview could be emotional for the interviewee, so be sure to end on a light note so they aren’t left “hanging” with their emotions.
8. Determine how the information will be saved and if it will be distributed. Will it be put on a website? Will the information be transcribed? Who will get copies?

With a little planning, you can use the technology available to us today to create a valuable family treasury and keep the history alive for generations to come.

–Elizabeth Thielke