Make a Memory Book With Questions to Ask Your Relatives

Make a Memory Book With Questions to Ask Your Relatives Important pieces of a familys history are found only in the memories of the living relatives. But many times those personal stories are never written down or shared before it is too late. The thought-provoking questions in a memory book can make it easier for a grandparent or other relation to recall people, places and times that they thought they had forgotten. Help them tell their story and record their precious memories for posterity by creating a personalized memory book or journal for them to complete. Make a Memory Book Begin by purchasing an empty three ring binder or a blank writing journal. Look for something that either has removable pages or lies flat when open to make writing easier. I prefer the binder because it lets you print and use your own pages. Even better, it also allows your relative to make mistakes and start over with a fresh page, which can help lessen the intimidation factor. Create a List of Questions Be sure to include questions which cover each phase of the individuals life: childhood, school, college, job, marriage, raising children, etc. Get your family into the act and have your other relations and children suggest questions that interest them. These history interview questions can help you get started, but dont be afraid to come up with additional questions of your own. Gather Together Family Photos Select images that include your relative and their family. Have them professionally scanned into digital format or do it yourself. You can also photocopy the photos, but this generally doesnt yield as nice a result. A memory book offers an excellent opportunity to have kin identify individuals and recall stories in unidentified photos. Include one or two unidentified photos per page, with sections for your relative to identify the people and place, plus any stories or memories which the photo may prompt them to recall. Create Your Pages If youre using a hard-backed journal you can print and paste in your questions or, if you have nice handwriting, pen them in by hand. If youre using a 3-ring binder, use a software program such to create and arrange your pages before printing them out. Include only one or two questions per page, leaving plenty of room for writing. Add photos, quotes or other little memory triggers to accent the pages and provide further inspiration. Assemble Your Book Decorate the cover with personalized sayings, photos or other family memories. If you want to get really creative, scrapbooking supplies such as archival-safe stickers, die cuts, trim, and other decorations can help you add a customized, personal touch to the publishing process. Once your memory book is complete, send it off to your relative with a pack of good writing pens and a personal letter. Once they have completed their memory book, you may want to send new pages with questions to add to the book. Once they return the completed memory book to you, be sure to have photocopies made to share with family members and protect against possible loss.