Oral History and Genealogy

Photo by Tim Kilby on Unsplash

We have all probably wished we could speak to one of our ancestors. Wouldn’t it be great to ask those questions whose missing answers are preventing us from breaking through some of our brick walls in research? While we can’t speak to people long gone, we can take the time to interview and talk with our present-day relatives. Let’s look.

There are many articles related to interviews and capturing family stories from discussions and/or formal interviews. In the most recent Familytree Magazine, there is a great article “Speaking softly” by Rhonda Lauritzen that has wonderful tips as well as recommendations about what you should and shouldn’t do. One sentence in her article really stood out to me: “A person’s story should belong to them.” Sometimes we get so busy gathering information that we forget that. We need to respect what they feel comfortable sharing or what they would like shared after the interview.
What if you have a loved one who is still here but has memory problems? FamilySearch has an interesting article about how to interview your relative who has dementia. How to Talk to Someone with Dementia  In addition to the article itself, there are some great references for you to explore. Remember the goal is to capture memories, not names and dates. When we are researching our relatives from the distant past, isn’t it wonderful to find a tidbit about their life beyond those dates? For me, it makes them come alive, reminds me of their humanity.
For those of you who like to read more, here are some additional links:
Conducting Oral Histories: Techniques for Capturing Family Stories - Genealogy Foundation
How to Do Oral History | Smithsonian Institution Archives
The Importance of Oral Histories - Genealogy.com
Not every oral history is one that you’ve personally completed. While I haven’t found one of a direct ancestor, I have discovered collateral interviews that were completed by historical societies or as part of the WPA Works. These are treasures because they still ask questions about how they came from the old country or how their parents traveled there. It is useful to get that perspective. Sometimes you might only find the transcript but how fun it is when you find both the oral history recording and the transcript. With the effort to capture memories of World War II soldiers both can often be found.
I hope this has given you inspiration and some good ideas regarding how you can capture your family’s oral history. Remember that it doesn’t have to be complicated or complex. Even finding out what Christmas memories your mom’s siblings have would add color and interest to your family story. Happy visiting with family!