Re: [ranchos] ORAL HISTORY

[Dan Solis <dansolis2000@...>]

That is a great idea.  It also helps if you give them
the questions ahead of time.  It gives them time to
think about it and you get better information.  Make
sure you have a good video camera and a good mic. 
Good sound is key.  You may also want to give them old
pictures so as to help them remember.

I have found that my mother feels most confortable
talking about the family history is about the table
when she is making tamales.

good luck.


--- Pacorro73@... wrote:

> In all honesty, recording Oral History is a truly
> beautiful gift we can give 
> our future descendants.  Not only is oral history a
> significant aspect of 
> genealogy, but it is what recording family history
> is all about.  We need to 
> remember that the names that we see and research in
> our files, were those of real 
> living breathing human beings too.  Now that they
> are no longer with us, we 
> must preserve their memory, and remember who they
> were.
> 
> Although I must admit I have not yet done this, I
> have read that you should 
> prepare before you just start video taping your
> elders.  If you ask really good 
> questions, you will get really good answers.  Be
> prepared to be flexible and 
> reactive to your interviewee and sit and back and
> enjoy while listening to the 
> stories and let them reminisce and remember.  You
> will see that the past and 
> countless family stories and anecdotes, will make
> your family's history come 
> alive.  Blend your questions in lively conversation
> that allow the memories to 
> develop and branch out, but be ready to guide the
> chat back if you go off on a 
> tangent.  But on the other hand, these tangents can
> provide the most 
> interesting, fascinating, sad, glorious, happy, or
> nail-biting stories of your 
> family's past, and you'll have them recorded for
> posterity.  Imagine what kind of 
> treasure they will become to our descendant's
> descendants?  It would be like 
> having a diary of your retatarabuelo's stories
> complete with pictures.  
> 
> You know know I have to do this as soon as possible
> myself, because I only 
> have one more grandparent left.  Mi Abuelita Cruz is
> my father's mother, and 
> I've already talked and she's shared many wonderful
> stories, but now I seriously 
> have to get them down on tape.
> 
> I hope you are now as inspired as I am to not waste
> any more time, and take 
> the time to record your family's oral history. 
> Remember, it's a labor of love. 
>  And if we don't act now, the opportunity to do so
> will have 
> passed...forever.  Don't let this happen.  Preserve
> your oral history.
> 
> Atentamente,
> Steven F. Hernandez
> 



		
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