In 2008, StoryCorps launched an unofficial campaign to encourage Americans to take some time during this holiday weekend to talk to each other. The premise is simple: sit down with a friend or relative, ask them some questions, have a conversation, and record it to share with your family or the nation. It’s as easy as that.

Stories have so much power. Each of us has lived an incredible life but all too often, our personal story doesn’t sound that amazing to us. However, these stories can personalize history in a way that nothing else can. The Special Collections Department has multiple oral history collections that include stories from veterans, civil rights activists, business leaders, immigrants, and everyday people. These collections are some of our most used resources because of the connection they give to historical events.

Take Alice Smith Risby, for example. In her interview from 2007, she talks about her daughter being one of the first graders that integrated Nashville schools in YEAR. She specifically mentions that her daughter’s name was not in the papers because they missed registration so this event would not have been recorded if she hadn’t shared her story. But the part I love about oral histories comes toward the end of the clip. One of the parents of another student walks up to her and tells her they are there to make sure nothing happens to her daughter. That human interaction happened over 50 years ago but it still stays in Mrs. Risby’s memory because it meant so much to her.

What stories does your familly have to tell?

Find out this month by following these easy steps!

1. Decide who you want to interview. A grandparent, sibling, parent, cousin, friend, anyone you like!
2. Create a list of questions. Is there a specific story you want to hear more about? Think about what you already know about the person and go from there! Here is a list of Great Questions from StoryCorps. 
3. Find some recording equipment. If you have a tape recorder or video camera, great! If not, you can use a smartphone or even a computer. Get creative.
4. Pick a place to record. It’s always best to find a quiet spot to record this story but others may want to hear. If you can’t find a spot for the two of you, ask others to try to keep quiet so that the story can be captured as best as possible.
5. Begin!! State your names, the date, the location, and your relationship. Remember this story may live on past the two of you so you want people to know who you are! We recommend 40 minutes as a good length for interviews but you can do as long or short as you like. 40 minutes makes the files small enough that they are easy to manage. Share it! Send it to your family, post it on the Internet, share it on StoryCorps Wall of Listening. 

Want more information?

Learn more about our Oral History Collections and listen online through our Digital Collections website.

For more resources and more oral histories, check out StoryCorps.