People love to tell stories, and the older we get the more wild anecdotes we have to tell! It’s fun to sit back and listen. But, have you ever considered recording these family stories?
When you start asking family members if they know any crazy stories, you’ll find it’s usually not very hard to get them chatting. These memories paint portraits of what your relatives were really like. They give context to the world they lived in and fill in color to otherwise black and white images. You might even recognize family traits and trends that passed through generations. The ultimate showcase of the legacy your ancestors left you.
Elderly members of the family are especially good at telling stories about the “old days” or the “old country.” Sometimes for hours… and hours. But, trust me, it’s worth it. They might repeat themselves. They’ll most likely get sidetracked when they remember so-and-so’s half-brother with the hair. Don’t stop them. These stories are gems and once a person has passed on they’re lost to history. So, be sure to record them while you can!
What is the best way to record family stories?
There isn’t a right or wrong way to go about recording family stories. Usually, it depends on what tools you have available to you and the comfort level of the person you’re talking to. Here are some recording options to consider:
Handwritten Notes
Take handwritten notes with a good ol’ notebook and pencil or type notes on a phone, tablet, or computer. In this case, you may want to have more than one person taking notes. The second person might catch something your relative says that you don’t hear or notice. You can compare notes and write down the stories afterward.Audio Recording App
Use an audio recording app on your phone. Not only does this allow you to save the conversation word-for-word, but it also captures your family member’s voice. This is easy to do on the fly and most people are comfortable having their voices recorded.Video
Make a video of your family member as they tell stories, facial expressions, hand gestures, and all. Phones and tablets have made video recordings super easy. You should be able to get a good recording even if you haven’t planned ahead. Otherwise, set a date and time, have grandma put on her best house dress and bring over a nice DSLR camera, lapel microphone, and tripod.
Ultimately, recording stories from the people who lived them is like creating a digital time capsule. It’ll make your family tree come alive!
Before you run out and buy a fancy new camera, there are some best practices for recording family stories you should follow to avoid any technical issues or backlash from Uncle Randy.
6 tips to follow when recording relatives
- If you’re using an audio app or video, get permission before recording anybody. Since these stories are often told by elderly members of the family, be sure that they understand that they are being recorded. Those with dementia can usually ramble off stories from 70 years ago but might have no idea what the video camera or smartphone is for.
- If your family member isn’t able to understand that you want to record them, get permission from one of their close family members, or trusted caretakers.
- Make sure you record in a quiet room with no background noise. People don’t always speak loudly and clearly, so you want to minimize any interference.
- If you’re making a video, lighting is key. Avoid backlighting! For example, don’t record Aunt Hazel sitting on the old davenport with her back facing the giant bay window. Instead, have the person you are recording sit facing a window or light source. You can also place extra lights around to reduce shadows.
- Make sure you know how to operate the equipment you’re using. Create a test recording before your relative starts telling stories just in case.
- It’s tempting to let your audio or video recording capture the stories without any backup. “My brand new iPhone will catch all the pertinent information, right?” Not always so. Even after your best efforts, recordings don’t always turn out. Some get distorted by background noise, some don’t pick up everything a person says, and others fail due to “technical difficulties.” To ensure that you don’t lose the information you want, take notes. You might not want to write down every story word for word, but write down the important points. You can fill in the details later.
After your recording session, write out the complete stories your relative told, using your notes and the recording as a reference. Then you can upload your stories, audio clips, and videos to your family tree.
Family stories are valuable pieces of family history that you don’t want to lose. Not only do they create an emotional connection between you and the long lost family members you never met, but you can also use these stories as clues when researching different branches of the tree. How? That article is coming soon!
