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Our Favorite Life Stories Of Others Websites
An old African proverb tells us: "Every time an old  person dies, it is as if a library has burned down." It is important that we gather the stories of everyone, young and old, as these stories weave the fabric of our families and our communities. Preserving our stories is an important task, wouldn't you say?

Writing or otherwise memorializing a person's life story or memoirs, or helping someone to put their life down on paper or tape, is very different than writing your own story. We are lucky to find so many resources on the 'net to help. 

The Pros
The Association of Personal Historians is "a professional association whose mission is to help people preserve life stories and memories." Their site provides you with lots of good information, including a Coaching Corner, links, and other resources. Want to consult with a person? Their membership directory is listed here. And, oh, the wonderful workshops they offer at their annual conventions. See you at the conference next year?
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My History Is America's History
Each month, My History has a new theme relating to American history and the role of stories in history. For example, November's was Thanksgiving in American History and Memory. Included that month were articles and websites explaining the historical significance of this holiday.

My History says: "Many families come together in fellowship at Thanksgiving, making it a perfect time to share family memories, to look over old photographs, and to document the stories of our older relatives." Yes, Thanksgiving is over. Your guide recommends you and your family designate times throughout the year when you add to your family history and legacy.

You will also find lots and lots of other excellent resources to help you elicit and preserve life stories, such as their American History Files. Too many resources for your guide to list. Just click on over and see for yourself.
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Your Lucky Day! Here's Your Assistant
Choose whether you are writing about a living female, living male, deceased female, or deceased male and your Biography Assistant will provide you with a huge (no exaggeration) set of questions to be asked of or about the person whose life you are writing. Makes it lots easier on you, hmm?

Several good sites are out there with excellent interview questions. Sometimes your guide will send you others in her mighty ezine. Have you subscribed yet?
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Got The Right Equipment?
Brigham Young University brings you complete instructions on how to plan, prepare for, conduct, and preserve that interview. Are you using a notebook, a tape recorder, or a video camera? Look no more, technical help is here, too. And even more interview questions for you. Who ya going to interview first?
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Planning A Local Legacy Project
 An archives with the history of everything in the community gathered by young and old alike. And, of course, everyone's life story goes into the archives.

Many of the ideas are so creative, honoring the past. Example: school kids might learn about the frogs living in the local stream. At the same time, they would learn the history of the stream. Take a look. The plan is a lot more than frogs. It's beyond wonderful. Enough said to make you read it right now?
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Life Stories Of Others Discussion Groups
Let's Talk
Here's a discussion list for people who write the life stories and memoirs of others, or who help others write their life stories -- beginners to experts. Topics are wide-ranging, and include interviewing, preserving, overcoming reluctance to reminisce, and jogging memories. Hope to see you at the list.

Subscribe at the site where you will find a more detailed description of the group. Or send a blank e-mail to StoriesOfOthers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
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