Grey-Bruce Boomers Winter2023

COMMUNITY
by Arlen Wiebe
to hear you telling your stories with your own voice.
Would you enjoy hearing stories told in the voices of
your ancestors?
Books – A book can be narrative only or it can
feature photos, documents, and other illustrations.
Books can be paperback or hardcover, simple or
elegant.
What all is involved?
Recording your personal stories is a way to connect
generations and preserve memories. Sometimes
called a personal history, it could be a memoir, a
tribute, a life story, a family biography, an oral history,
a legacy letter, or ethical will.
If you work on your own personal history or that of
a loved one, your only cost is your time and expenses.
If you hire a personal historian, the cost will range
in price from a few hundred dollars (audio and/or
transcripts for oral history), to thousand dollars (a life
story with photos), to tens of thousands of dollars
(longer or more complex projects).
What format does personal
history take?
A childhood
photo of
Arlen and
his Mom.
Personal histories can be recorded in many ways.
Here are some areas in which personal historians
may have expertise.
Audio recordings/CDs – Recording your stories
electronically in an audio file or a CD allows your
children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren
Art books, scrapbooks, handmade books –
These are one-of-a-kind products that can include
written stories, photos, drawings, scraps of fabric,
pressed flowers, jewelry, and any other kind of valued
memento.
Photo books, collages, calendars – These
products are mostly photos or drawings combined
with very few written words. You could create a
beautiful photo book, a poster-sized collage, or a
photo calendar with pictures of family members
included on their birthdays, anniversaries, or other
important dates.
Photo videos – You can use photos, home movies,
slides, videotapes, and other memorabilia to create a
memorable video set to music.
DVDs – You can capture a person’s voice, personality,
gestures, and spirit for posterity on video. This
kind of project can be simple or complex, include
individual or group interviews, and range from short
tribute to TV-style biography.
Ethical wills or legacy letters – An ethical
will or legacy letter is a statement of your personal
values, beliefs, life lessons, and a message you want to
convey to your family, friends, and community.
Legacy planning – Legacy planning helps
you preserve your values and heritage for future
generations. Tasks might include taking care of
historical family documents and photos, creating
an archive, preparing material for an obituary, or
memorial service planning.
18 • GREYBRUCEBOOMERS.COM