A Month for Family Stories

If you did not learn everything about your family history last month, I have good news! There are still opportunities to continue your genealogy journey this month. Following on the heels of National Family History Month in October, November is another month of festive family celebrations, and there are at least two that are worthy of mentioning. First, Happy National Family Stories Month! Also, Happy National Life Writing Month!

National Family Stories Month “is celebrated every November, encouraging families to share and preserve their unique stories and histories…[the month] is dedicated to honoring the rich tapestry of family histories and the stories that connect generations. It serves as a reminder of the importance of storytelling in strengthening family bonds and fostering a sense of belonging.”

National Life Writing Month, also “celebrated every November, encourages individuals to document their personal stories and experiences, fostering creativity and preserving memories…[the month] aims to inspire people to write about their lives, capturing significant moments, memories, and experiences that shape who they are.”

With various holidays approaching, there are many opportunities to capture family stories and write about our lives. As we gather around tables to celebrate the holidays with our families, take time to ask questions and listen to stories. You can ask a variety of questions to generate memories, then you can sit back and listen deeply, especially if you take a voice/video recorder or use an app on your phone. StoryCorps is a great option as well. If you want to come to the library, our Digital Studios can be a great place to conduct the interviews. We have recording booths at both locations!

Oral history interviews are a great way to capture family stories. They can be helpful for filling in gaps between different records or documents that you may have found. They can also offer details that would have never been found or known otherwise. If you are unsure about where to start or how to conduct oral history interviews, Elizabeth Keating’s book, The Essential Questions, is a very approachable introduction to the how and why of oral history interviews. In addition, the Genealogy Foundation has some tips about how to prepare and conduct these interviews. Also, check out this historical society’s presentation that gives additional tips and potential questions. Finally, Thomas MacEntee has a great post about writing your stories, and the National Genealogical Society has a great resource about “Writing and Sharing Family Stories” which includes some prompts as well as additional resources for learning.

If you are looking for a fun way to capture these family stories and begin the writing process, FamilySearch has a couple of “Family History Activities” that may be helpful. First, they have a “Together” activity that is meant to “strengthen family bonds by sharing your stories together.” This fun tool helps you capture information like your favorites, but it also has prompts where you can write about individual family members and capture specific family stories (e.g., holiday memories, family recipes, family traditions, etc.). Maybe this could be something that you open up and have family members complete at an upcoming holiday gathering? Second, they have a “Record My Story” activity that helps you “tell your stories and the stories of your family.” With this activity, you can focus on yourself, sharing your goals and accomplishments, general questions, information about friends, and more. This activity allows you to create custom questions as well. To answer these questions, you can type your answers or record your voice.

Enjoy gathering your family stories and writing about them this month!