Recording Your Family History: A Grandparent's Guide

Every person who passes takes irreplaceable stories with them. Your grandchildren will want to know who you were, what life was like, and what you learned - long after they can ask you directly.

• Preserves family identity and heritage for future generations
• Gives grandchildren connection to their roots
• Ordinary memories become extraordinary with time
• Your life experience contains wisdom worth passing on
• Once memories are lost, they're gone forever

Many people never start because they want it to be perfect. The best family history project is one that gets done - start simple and build from there.

1. 1Start with one story you tell often - write it down or record it
2. 2Pick a format that feels comfortable (writing, speaking, video)
3. 3Set small goals: one story per week
4. 4Don't worry about chronological order - capture what comes naturally
5. 5Include sensory details: what did things look, smell, feel like?
6. 6It's okay to say "I don't remember exactly" - share what you do recall

Your descendants will be fascinated by ordinary life details that seem unremarkable to you. The everyday things of your era will be history to them.

• **Childhood**: Where you grew up, what school was like, friends, games
• **Family life**: Parents, siblings, family traditions, holiday memories
• **Work life**: First job, career path, mentors, challenges overcome
• **Historical events**: Where you were during major events, how they affected you
• **Relationships**: How you met your spouse, raising children, friendships
• **Daily life**: What things cost, technology changes you've seen, how life was different
• **Values**: What you believe, life lessons, advice you'd give
• **Regrets and triumphs**: Honest reflections that humanize your story

Use these questions to spark memories. They work for interviewing yourself or recording conversations with other family members.

• What's your earliest memory?
• Describe the house you grew up in.
• What was your relationship with your grandparents like?
• What did you want to be when you grew up? What changed?
• What was the happiest moment of your life?
• What's the best advice you ever received?
• What do you wish you had done differently?
• What would you want your great-grandchildren to know about you?
• What was the best financial decision you ever made?
• What invention or change in your lifetime surprised you most?

You don't need expensive equipment. Modern phones can record excellent video and audio.

• **Smartphone video**: Record in good light, phone at eye level, speak clearly
• **Voice memos**: Great for capturing stories while driving or relaxing
• **Photo scanning apps**: Free apps scan photos with your phone camera
• **Cloud backup**: Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox protect against loss
• **StoryCorps app**: Free app with interview prompts and archiving
• **Write by hand**: A handwritten journal has its own special value

As you accumulate stories, photos, and recordings, organizing them makes them accessible for future generations.

• **Create folders** by decade, person, or theme
• **Label photos** with names, dates, locations while you remember
• **Keep a master index** of what you've recorded and where it's stored
• **Share as you go** - don't wait until it's "done"
• **Consider a family website** or shared album for easy access
• **Include written context** for photos and recordings