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PERSONAL
& FAMILY HISTORY IDEAS
WHERE TO START -
BRANCHING OUT -
TOPICS -
MAKING MEMORIES
Branching Out
Have you tried to talk your grandparents into
preserving their memories, to no avail?
Try these ideas for collecting stories from your parents, grandparents,
aunts, uncles, etc.
Do you need a quick gift idea for relatives, Home or
Visiting Teaching families, and friends?
Print out a copy of our
topics or
topics for young people. Use colored paper for a more festive look.
Place the paper strips into a glass jar (a small canning jar works
beautifully), and then tie a ribbon or raffia around the neck of the
jar, attaching a gift tag explaining what the jar is for.
If you need a "bigger" gift, why not include an acid-free pen or two,
and a journal or notebook? For grandparents, adding a tape recorder and
tapes may get them started on a personal history that you will treasure.
FAMILY REUNION -- When everyone is together this family
reunion, have them each write a special memory that they have of a
family member. If that family member is still living, give him a chance
to add to these memories. Organize and compile the memories, and make
copies available to interested family members.
If you'd rather make it a fun surprise, have family members write the
memories a few months before the family reunion, and present them to the
family member(s) at the reunion as a wonderful keepsake. This also makes
a great gift for a special birthday, anniversary, or holiday
celebration.
LETTERS OF LOVE -- Write to your grandparents (or other
relatives) every month. In each letter, ask a question about their
lives, and encourage them to share stories about the subject. Keep the
response letters in a special place where they will be safe. If your
grandparents cannot write, they may be willing to record their responses
on a tape recorder, or you could ask questions when you visit, recording
the conversation. If you need ideas on questions to ask, choose some
from our topics page. You may want to put copies of the memories
together in a book for your grandparents and other relatives for a
special gift.
MEMORY STARTERS -- It can be difficult to know where to start
when contributing memories to someone's history. Try answering one or
more of the following questions, and then give examples.
What did you admire most about Grandma?
What did you learn from her?
Did Grandma have any special talents?
What was her home like?
What was your favorite thing to eat at her house?
What is she best known for?
How has your relationship with her changed over the years?
RECIPE BOOK -- Make a memory recipe book. Each family member
is invited to contribute as many old family favorites as they would
like. Have them include favorite memories surrounding the recipe, and
even an appropriate picture. For a sample page from this kind of memory
book, please click on the link below.
GRANDMA'S BREAD
Copyright 2001-2004 By Barbara Anne
Williams & Chris Kennard
Permission granted for personal,
non-commercial of this page text only.
May not be published in any form
without express written permission from Bits of Ivory.
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