StoryCorps Tips on Recording Family Stories

Family stories are treasures, but all too often they get lost in the shuffle of busy lives. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I got to thinking about my Grandpa – he used to sneak into the house early on Valentine’s Day morning and leave Valentines and raspberry pastries on the kitchen counter for me and my Mom. My Grandpa passed away, and I still miss him, but I am also thankful that my Mom took the time over the years to record his priceless stories. She had them bound and copied in time for his 90th birthday party. If you have been thinking about doing something similar, seize the day! I did a bit of research to help get you started and one of the best resources I found was StoryCorps, a nonprofit project recording the stories of everyday people all across the country – you may already be familiar with them through their regular features on NPR. I have distilled some of the best StoryCorps tips along with a few things learned from my own family to help you record your family’s treasured stories with ease. Ready to dig in?

Me and My Grandpa at a Baseball Game

Getting Ready

• Don’t limit yourself to thinking only of older relatives to interview! Parents and Grandparents are natural choices, but you can also regularly interview your children as they grow, or interview a sibling or one of your oldest friends.
• Really think about what you would like to learn from this person. Is there a particular time in their life you want to know more about? Do you want to ask them about their parents or older relatives? Is there a particular topic you would love to hear them talk about? Or maybe you would like to ask what advice they have to share. When you think of things you want to ask, jot them down so you will remember later.
• Consider making a regular time to record stories: It could be once a year, once a month, on holidays, birthdays – whatever works for you and the person you are interviewing.
• The StoryCorps Question Generator List has well over 100 great questions in 14 categories. You can also go through their step-by-step Question Generator to come up with a personalized list of questions.

Technical Considerations

• Buy or borrow recording equipment, and get a microphone if at all possible
• Practice using the equipment ahead of time
• Choose a quiet spot to do the interview: A carpeted room with a door you can close is ideal
• Make sure nothing else is making noise: Air conditioners, ticking clocks, etc., and turn them off or remove them from the room if possible.
• If you are using a microphone, hold it about 7 inches from your storyteller’s mouth, and handle the microphone gently to prevent “mic-handling” noise.
• Test the sound with a few warmup or “throwaway” questions first, like “What did you have for breakfast?”

During the Interview

• StoryCorps suggests stating your name, age, the date, and the location of the interview, and then asking your storyteller to do the same. This sets the stage for the interview, and records important details for posterity.
• Refer to the questions you prepared, but don’t feel bound to them. If something else interesting comes up, ask about it!
• If your storyteller is hesitating, these three magic words are all you need to say: “Tell me more.”
• Do your best not to interrupt
• Take notes during the interview to remind you of stories or topics you want to return to another time
• Before ending the interview, be sure to ask the storyteller if there is anything else they want to talk about
• Remember to thank your storyteller! The folks at StoryCorps remind us that, “Opening up can be difficult. Express your gratitude and let him or her know that it was a privilege to listen to the story.”

What Next?

• If you want to take it a step further, write down the stories you recorded – either leaving them in interview format arranged by date, or editing to create chapters based on themes or on phases of life.
• Select photos you would like to include in a book, and ask your storyteller to write down the story behind the pictures.
• Gather other memorabilia to put into a book with the stories: It can be so nice to have something in the person’s own hand. For example, I have a copy (pictured at right) of the list on which my Grandpa kept track of money he earned mowing lawns – to pay back the loan he took out to buy my Grandma’s engagement ring!

Learn More About StoryCorps

StoryCorps is a nonprofit project, begun in 2003, whose purpose is to record everyday people interviewing their family members and friends. The interviews are done in soundproof recording booths, and after the interview the participants each take home a CD recording of their interview. The interview is then archived at the Library of Congress where future generations will have access to the thousands of stories on file.

If you would like to participate, there are currently two ongoing StoryBooth locations, in New York and San Francisco. If you do not live near those locations, you can try to catch the StoryCorps MobileBooth which is currently touring the United States in a specially equipped Airstream trailer (get the MobileBooth tour schedule here). I love the idea of participating in the StoryCorps project and becoming a part of the oral history of this country. You can also download their DIY Guide for recording interviews at home

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