Help needed with a talk, please

[SmallTownGirl]

Hi
Perhaps you need to start with an example of what you would like them to do? Can you show them what you have done in terms of getting older family members to record their memories? Have you a photo album with names of the people shown and how they are related to you, and how this has helped you? This might then encourage them to think about their own families and what they know, and could start a discussion about the best ways to 'capture' this information, and then they could have a go at doing it themselves?

I've did a similar talk many years ago and although I know you do not wish to go down the family tree route a VERY brief out line is useful. Why? Because then you can stress the need for later  searchers to get answers to questions they wished they had asked and the benefit of an older generation having already written down some information. In particular maiden names of female forebears, pencil information on the back of photos, where they lived at such and such a time, little habits or 'quirks' of family members etc.
They may need the spur to get them started and it is useful to know and understand why the information they carry in their heads is important.
Lilym

Excellent ideas.  Thanks v.much.

[SmallTownGirl]

I think this is a great idea! The older generation have very often an amazing recall of events, with huge amount of detail. Many love talking about memories rather than writing this down...don't blame them...life is too short 

Have a look at this link for example http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/history/handsonhistory/reel_memories_english.pdf

Monica 

Fab link, Monica!

Great stuff.

[MonicaL]

The BBC did a massive exercise on this not so long ago. Further links to the one above:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7812068.stm
www.rootschat.com/links/01fam/

Other links such as this one:

www.ohs.org.uk/
www.instructables.com/id/Record-Your-Familys-Oral-History-before-it-dies-/

There are many more to help and support you in giving structure to your project and talk.

Monica

[venelow]

Hi SMG

Voice recordings might be less intimidating than video. More like a natural conversation. And they wouldn't have to write it down. Someone else could transcribe it.

Venelow

[roopat]

I'd say it depends on the definition of 'elderly'. It could be anything from 60 - 95, couldn't it? I would imagine if they are expecting a talk on family history (such as our local library organises, to get people started) they will want to know simple steps they can take to research their own family.
If, on the other hand, it's a group of very elderly, maybe in a nursing home, they may indeed welcome the opportunity to record their memories. So your approach could be spot on.

Pat

[california dreamin]

Hi STG

If you decided you didn't want to go down the oral history route - what about this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo2foYPakaI&feature=youtu.be

She was a speaker at WDYTYA

[SmallTownGirl]

Oh lots of really good ideas.  Thanks everyone.

[jaybelnz]

I once worked in a Rest Home as Activities Co-ordinator. When I was doing Oral Histories with some of the residents, I typed up a simple questionnaire on A4, for them to fill in, if they were able, or with help from relatives when they visited.

I had access to their full names and birth details, so was able to start them off a little, with those details on the sheet.  Then I had a place for parents, siblings, marriage chn etc, and questions like,

What was ...... Your favourite. Etc

Who was...

Where did....   You meet Dad/Mum

Basically a Who, What, How, Where, When document that works well.

I started one for myself, as an example, with a group of about 20.  Had a big whiteboard and did it on a huge sheet of paper, same layout, but they could all relate it to the size paper they had. It would work just as easily, if not better, on a power point presentation if you have such access.

It's amazing how much knowledge these people had, and triggers in a group situation will often bring up some really old memories! 

Each persons memory sheets were then kept on a clipboard in their room, and family were notified and invited to encourage that walk down memory lane together.

It was great to go back in on the next Monday and see just how much was filled in on their Questionnaires.  Feedback from families was great as well, a number who said things like, wow, didn't have a clue Mum did....... So the way was also paved for maybe some further research by the families!  A win win for all.

Good luck with your project!

And from Rudyard Kipling

I KEEP six honest serving-men
 (They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
 And How and Where and Who

A great mantra when researching the lives of my families!


Jeanne 😄

[relatedtoturnips]

I've been asked to give a talk around the general subject of family history to a group of "elderly" learners.

Rather than going down the family tree route, I wondered about encouraging them to somehow record their memories for the benefit of their younger relatives - on the basis that we've probably all lamented the fact that we didn't ask our own old relatives questions before they died/became incapable of telling us.  Oh, and a particular bugbear of mine, get them to write [proper information] on the reverse of photographs.   

I've got lots of questions that they could give their answers to, but apart from asking them to go home and physically write them down/word process them (if skills allow), or getting their children/grandchildren/g.grandchildren to imitate Jeremy Paxman (other personalities are available) and to video them being "interviewed" to answer the questions,I'm a bit stuck as to how else to suggest that they might record them.

So, firstly, do you think the idea is a sound one and secondly, how can I make it work properly?

All help/advice welcomed!

STG

I would video them talking, or at least record the audio from them. Ive done it with my parents. When they get going, they wont stop.

When you have the recordings, it can be burned to dvd, or saved to hard disc for later transcription if needed. Its much easier that way, and it saves them having to slog away writing a life story out.

Also when you video, you see the expressions on the persons face. And the cadence and tone of the speech can convey emotions, much more than the written article.