Capturing Family Stories Through Oral Interviews
October is Family History Month, and it’s the perfect time to sit down with loved ones and record their stories. Oral interviews are one of the most meaningful ways to preserve your family’s history and they’re easier than you might think. When you take time to record someone’s memories, you’re doing more than gathering facts; you’re preserving the sound of their voice and the emotion behind their stories. These are things that can’t be captured in photos or documents alone.
Why Oral Interviews Matter
I conducted my first oral interview when I was 14 years old. I had stayed in touch with someone I lovingly called “Grandma Lund.” She was my next-door neighbor and a close friend of my great-grandparents, who had already passed away.
Armed with a simple tape recorder and microphone, I asked her about her life and her adventures with my great-grandparents. That interview lit a spark in me. I discovered how much I loved learning about people and their stories – the struggles, the endurance, and the love that shaped them. From that moment, my passion for learning people’s stories and preserving them for future generations began.
Years later, my husband and I interviewed all four sets of our grandparents and recorded their stories on video. We asked about their childhoods, their marriages, and their memories of raising families. Those interviews are absolute treasures now.
Sadly, we didn’t get around to interviewing our parents before my father-in-law passed away unexpectedly. That loss still hurts. It reminded me that these opportunities don’t last forever.
So, my biggest piece of advice is this: Keep it simple and get it done before it’s too late. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, the perfect camera, or the perfect setup. Just start. The only real mistake is waiting too long.
There’s something incredibly powerful about hearing a loved one’s voice as they tell their story. When you record them talking, you preserve not just what they said, but how they said it; their expressions, their humor, their pauses. It creates a connection that bridges generations.
Step 1: Decide Who You Want to Interview
Start by choosing who you’d like to interview and what your purpose is. Ask yourself:
- Do I want to gather facts for my family tree?
- Do I want to learn about their personal life, values, and experiences?
- Do I want to record stories about their parents, grandparents, or childhood?
- Am I focusing on a specific theme, like faith, work, or immigration?
You might start with parents or grandparents, but don’t forget other family members like aunts, uncles, cousins, or even family friends who knew your loved ones well. Once you’ve decided, reach out and ask if they’d be willing to be interviewed. Most people feel honored that you care about their story.
Step 2: Prepare for the Interview
Pick a comfortable time and place, their home is often best. Bring:
- A recording device (a smartphone, camera, or audio recorder)
- A charger or backup batteries
- A notebook and pen for follow up questions
- A list of questions to help guide the conversation
When planning your questions, focus on open-ended prompts that encourage storytelling rather than yes or no answers. Start with simple topics to help your interviewee relax, and then gently move into deeper questions as they become more comfortable. Here are some examples of questions I used when I recently interviewed my mom:[1]
- Tell me about your childhood, where you grew up and what life was like.
- What were holidays like in your family?
- What did your parents do for work?
- How did your parents meet?
- What was your first job?
- How did you meet Dad?
- What experiences in your life have made you stronger?
- What is one memory that always makes you laugh?
- How has faith played a role in your life?
- What advice do you have for your children and grandchildren?
- What are you most grateful for?
Let the conversation flow naturally; the best moments often come from unexpected directions.
Step 3: Conduct the Interview
Arrive early and test your equipment before you begin. Once you start, give your full attention. That way, you can focus entirely on your family member once the interview begins. Be attentive, patient, and kind. Some stories might bring up strong emotions or long pauses and that’s okay. Give them space. Often, those quiet moments are when memories come flooding back. As they share, try to maintain eye contact and avoid interrupting, even if you’re excited about what they’re saying. Listening with genuine curiosity helps your interviewee feel respected and heard.
After the interview, thank them sincerely for sharing their memories. Let them know how much it means to you and your family.
It’s also wise to ask permission to share the interview. A simple written consent form ensures everyone feels comfortable with how the material is used. Here’s an example:
I, [Interviewee’s Name], give permission to [Interviewer] to use the transcript, audio, or video recording of my interview (recorded on [date]) for personal, educational, or family purposes, including sharing with relatives, historical societies, or family history websites.[2]
Step 4: After the Interview
Within a week, transcribe the interview while the details are fresh. Technology changes quickly, but a written copy will last forever. Make backups and share copies with family members. You can even upload transcripts to FamilySearch or turn them into a keepsake book with photos.[3]
When my husband and I interviewed our grandparents, we discovered details about our parents that we’d never known. Hearing their stories helped me understand my husband better – his roots, his humor, his values. My mother-in-law’s story of her grandparents escaping East Germany after World War II is one I never want to forget. Even after hearing it countless times, I can never retell it quite right That’s why these stories must be recorded; to preserve them accurately and permanently. Family stories remind us of who we are. They help us understand our roots, build compassion, strengthen relationships and connect generations.[4]
When I recently interviewed my mom, I discovered stories about my great-grandparents that I had never heard before. She shared memories filled with strength, faith, and quiet endurance, stories that have carried her through many of life’s challenges. As she spoke, I began to understand her on a deeper level. I could see how her mother’s sacrifices shaped her into the woman she is today, and I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the generations of strong women who came before me.[5]
My daughter was there beside me, listening and asking her own thoughtful questions. Together, we learned about some of my mom’s fears for the future; things I hadn’t known before, and I realized that I could help bring her comfort in ways I hadn’t recognized. What touched us most deeply was hearing her testify of the strength she draws from her faith in being reunited with her son again. It was a tender, sacred moment, one that strengthened not only my understanding of my mother but also the bond between three generations of women sitting together, sharing stories and faith. This was an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life.[6]
Step 5: Keep the Tradition Alive
Don’t stop with just one interview. Make oral history part of your family’s tradition. You could:
- Record a new interview every Family History Month, on a family member’s birthday or Father’s and Mother’s Day.
- Invite younger family members to help with questions.
- Focus on different themes each year, like “childhood memories,” “love stories,” or “hard times and lessons learned.”
- Encourage everyone to share their favorite family stories at gatherings.
Each story you collect adds another thread to your family’s tapestry. Over time, you’ll build a priceless collection of memories that your children and grandchildren can treasure.
Start Your Family Interview Today
This Family History Month, challenge yourself to record just one person’s story. It can be as simple as a 30-minute conversation at the kitchen table. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or setup – just start! You’ll uncover memories, wisdom, and love that will bless your family for generations. You’ll laugh. You might cry. You’ll almost certainly learn something you never knew. And someday, someone will listen to that recording and be grateful you cared enough to preserve it.
Do it before it’s too late. You’ll never regret it.
If you need help finding the stories of your ancestors, Price Genealogy would love to help you.
Jessica
Photos:
- Unsplash, with permission, published on April 2, 2019, (https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-in-black-half-sleeved-shirt-sitting-while-facing-woman-and-smiling-QziaoZM0M44).
- Unsplash, with permission, published Published on September 12, 2022, (https://unsplash.com/photos/group-of-aged-friendly-people-in-casualwear-discussing-latest-news-while-sitting-on-soft-couch-in-living-room-during-gathering-YABzXIZimQc).
- Unsplash, with permission, published on September 13, 2022, (https://unsplash.com/photos/happy-little-girls-with-headphones-and-microphone-taking-an-interview-having-fun-and-playing-at-home-awca1-JTcOQ).
- Looking at a family history book, San Clemente, California, 15 October 2023, photo taken by author.
- 3 Generation photo taken at a wedding, Sandy, Utah, 4 March 2011, photo owned by author.
[1] Nancy Knudsen Price (Sandy, Utah), interviewed by Jessica and Katherine Adlard, 11 May 2025, transcript privately held by Jessica S Adlard (11912 S Blue Heron Dr Draper, Utah 2025.
[2] FamilySearch Research Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Creating_Oral_Histories), “Creating Oral Histories,” rev 16:47, 27 June 2022.
[3] FamilySearch Wiki, “Creating Oral Histories,” rev 16:47, 27 June 2022.
[4] Ursula Meywald Greenwood (Independence, Missouri), interviewed by Darin and Jessica Adlard 15 February 2003; transcript held privately by Jessica Adlard (Address available upon request), 2003.
[5] Nancy Knudsen Price, interview 11 May 2025.
[6] Nancy Knudsen Price, interview 11 May 2025.