Family Oral History Across the World

Family Oral History Across the World presents a process for memorializing family histories, bringing together established oral history standards, exploratory research and narrative data analysis.

Based on and using a prequestionnaire and using forty-three recorded interviews with people from across six continents, the analysis system used in the book exposes material from these interviews that brings alive the experience of the family history journey. One of the guiding principles is to encourage readers to interview both family members but also others outside the family unit, to produce a family history in whatever format works. The book illustrates this through the inclusion of many unusual formats and stories uncovered. The book is divided into a number of themes that emerged through the analysis and emerge through the collection of these interviews. Parts One, Two, and Three cover changing family demography, case studies, and factors such as memory, emotion, and ethics. Part Four offers a pliable process and practice guide with input and examples from interviews. It also engages with developing approaches to presenting oral histories from both oral historians and others interviewers and writers, such as journalists.

With case studies, as well as example guidelines and templates this volume is ideal both for academics interested in family history as well as professional genealogists and families themselves.