A Gift From the Past: Sharing Family Stories

A stack of postcards written over a century ago in a foreign language; Adoption papers that leave questions unanswered; A memoir detailing a family’s escape from Europe during the Second World War.

These documents are strands of my family’s history. I am fortunate to have so much information but there are still many gaps and I will likely never have the complete picture. I wish I had thought to ask more questions when I was younger but I was not very interested and I assumed that I could always ask the questions whenever I chose.

We all have engaging stories but these can be lost over time. Sometimes we assume our stories aren’t remarkable enough to record or younger generations don’t think to ask about family history. However, this information can play an important role in family bonding and affirming identity. Discussing the past also has the benefit of supporting the positive mental health of older people.

As we go into the holiday season, finding a way to share family history may be the perfect gift for younger generations. Or, during family gatherings, recording recollections may be a wonderful activity everyone can participate in.

Telling Your Story

Photo Albums

Creating photo albums was a common practice when we printed all of our photographs but now many of us keep digital photographs on our computers or phones without giving a lot of thought to how they will be shared with future generations. Consider creating photo albums by printing pictures and organizing them in an album or try an online service to upload images and create photo books. Regardless of the method you use to organize your photographs, it is important to add captions so that future generations understand their connection to the people and events depicted.

Oral Histories

Recording oral histories can be a wonderful way to transmit family history. This method not only conveys the stories, but also the emotions and voices of the storytellers. This can also be done with video to capture the appearance and personality of the speaker.

While there are many benefits to audio or video recordings, it also requires a lot of preparation. It is rare that someone feels comfortable speaking at length about themselves so this is an excellent project that can be done together. In advance of an interview:

• prepare a list of questions—this might be something that all family members can contribute to
• ensure you are familiar with the technology to be used for recording
• select a comfortable setting so that the conversation can flow naturally

You may wish to have the interview transcribed following the conversation. Keep in mind that digital technologies change over time so if you keep the file solely in its audio or video format, information may be lost as technology evolves.

Writing your story

This can be a daunting task, especially if it is framed as a memoir. But this doesn’t need to be an all-encompassing narrative of your life. Your children, grandchildren, and descendants will find value in reading your memories, recollections, and anecdotes even if they can’t be pulled together in one tidy story. To get started, respond to a prompt, such as:

• An early childhood memory
• The most memorable vacation
• That time you surprised yourself

Gather documents

We often keep papers, such as a parent’s birth certificate or a letter from a grandparent, but not necessarily in an organized system. Consider whether you have documents like birth announcements, memorial prayer cards, or even old graduation certificates that might be of interest to future generations. Gather these puzzle pieces from the past in a single folder or box so that they are not misplaced.

Chosen Families

This blog has focused on biological families, but many of us have chosen families. It is important to remember that these valuable stories that inform identity are not limited to genetic connections.

I want to get the postcards translated and find a better way to illustrate the dense text of my maternal grandfather’s family tree. I hope to find a creative way to pull it all together—and add in my story—so that my children and their cousins have this record of their history. I am grateful to have these stories and that my family members recognized their importance and cared for them over time.