Capturing Memories

Dad never talked much about his childhood, and as children, we never thought to ask him about it. We learned a little through Mom, but the best way was through an audio recording.

Our cousin’s daughter asked her grandfather to record the story of his early years. By asking direct questions, he responded in his own words, with his unique expressions. Although I never heard the recording, I got a transcription. Reading his comments, I could picture my uncle and almost hear his voice and laughter at certain points in his story.

Uncovering Stories

This recording taught us what life was like for our Dad growing up. It was a happy family life on a farm until his mom died when he was only 11. After that, his father tried to keep the farm and the family together. Dad had to quit school after Grade 8, and his father passed away when Dad was 17. Although he inherited the farm, it was a tough time for all farmers, and Dad ended up losing the farm and becoming homeless.

Learning this story helped me understand why Dad said and did certain things and where his core values came from.

Why Recordings Matter

If you have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or family friends who aren’t inclined to write about themselves, make good use of a microphone and recording device to capture their stories while you can. And if you’re uncomfortable with writing, why not use technology to share your story with your family?

Explore More

See our resources for more information on how to get started with recordings.