Overview

Family Oral History Across the World presents a process for memorializing family histories, bringing together established oral history standards, exploratory research, and narrative data analysis. Based on and using a prequestionnaire and over 40 recorded interviews with people from across six continents, the analysis system used in the book presents material from these interviews that brings alive the experience of the family history journey. One of the guiding principles is to encourage readers to interview family members, but also others outside the family unit, and to produce a family history in whatever format works. The book illustrates this through the inclusion of many unusual formats and stories uncovered. The book is divided into a number of themes that emerged through the analysis of numerical questionnaire and narrative interview data. Parts I, II, and III cover changing family demography, case studies, and factors such as memory, emotion, and ethics. Part IV offers a pliable process and practice guide with input and examples from interviews. It also discusses developing approaches to presenting oral histories from both oral historians and other interviewers and writers, such as journalists. With case studies as well as example guidelines and templates, this volume is ideal both for academics interested in family history as well as professional genealogists and families themselves.

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9780367654825

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Reviews

'For those interested in capturing their family history before it is lost, this book is the most complete, detailed guide one could desire. Dr. Gordon covers everything from planning to interviewing to media capture; her case studies demonstrate how important such histories can be to descendants seeking to understand their own identities.' Dorothy Leonard, Harvard Business School, USA ‘Oral history is a valuable but still underused resource for family history. I would recommend this book to anyone considering its use, both for the wider context in which it is presented and explained here, and the wealth of practical and ethical guidance that it offers.’ Cynthia Brown, Freelance Oral Historian, UK 'Mary Gordon's book Family Oral History Across the World has finally provided future authors who wish to write their family's story with a step-by-step guide to how to go about it. Mary Gordon has skillfully added fascinating examples of the ways people from various parts of the world have embarked on writing about their families' past and what they have learnt from this experience, weaving these into her 5-phase approach to writing a successful family oral history.' Deirdre Pirro, Journalist and Attorney, The Florentine Newspaper, Italy

'For those interested in capturing their family history before it is lost, this book is the most complete, detailed guide one could desire. Dr. Gordon covers everything from planning to interviewing to media capture; her case studies demonstrate how important such histories can be to descendants seeking to understand their own identities.' Dorothy Leonard, Harvard Business School, USA ‘Oral history is a valuable but still underused resource for family history. I would recommend this book to anyone considering its use, both for the wider context in which it is presented and explained here, and the wealth of practical and ethical guidance that it offers.’ Cynthia Brown, Freelance Oral Historian

'For those interested in capturing their family history before it is lost, this book is the most complete, detailed guide one could desire. Dr. Gordon covers everything from planning to interviewing to media capture; her case studies demonstrate how important such histories can be to descendants seeking to understand their own identities.' Dorothy Leonard, Harvard Business School, USA ‘Oral history is a valuable but still underused resource for family history. I would recommend this book to anyone considering its use, both for the wider context in which it is presented and explained here, and the wealth of practical and ethical guidance that it offers.’ Cynthia Brown, Freelance Oral Historian, UK 'Mary Gordon's book Family Oral History Across the World has finally provided future authors who wish to write their family's story with a step-by-step guide to how to go about it. Mary Gordon has skillfully added fascinating examples of the ways people from various parts of the world have embarked on writing about their families' past and what they have learnt from this experience, weaving these into her 5-phase approach to writing a successful family oral history.' Deirdre Pirro, Journalist and Attorney, The Florentine Newspaper, Italy 'Kudos to Dr. Contini-Gordon for her well researched new book on family histories. It is full of enlightening interviews and insights.' Jo Ann Emmerich, TV and Media Executive ‘“Family Oral History Across the World” is a fascinating treatise on how the memory of our ancestors is retained for future generations. The book provides a most valuable service.’ Truby Chiaviello, PRIMO, A Magazine for and about Italian Americans, 2023, p.53 http://www.onlineprimo.com 'This book offers a practical set of processes for collecting oral histories and storing them. It provides ways to get started and plan, the issues to address, and many suggestions on preservation and storage. [...] This book opens up an approach to family stories that can sit happily next to family photos and a family tree.' Sherryl Abrahart, Genealogists' Magazine, Journal of the Society of Genealogists, March 2024, vol.34, no.9, www.sog.org.uk, UK “[This is] an important book on family oral histories…Gordon provides numerous suggestions on how to conduct family oral histories, preserve and use them, protocols to consider, and recording techniques. The book has a wealth of information that will be of interest and use to all families. Gordon offers many aspects of doing oral histories within families, but my favorite is her section, “Indigenous Families of the Southwest,” which including information on the Mission Context, California Indian Family Histories, and Boarding Schools.” Clifford E. Trafzer, University of California, Riverside, https://www.cihcfoundation.org/

Author Information

Mary Contini Gordon, Ed.D, Educational Psychology, UCLA with honors has held lead roles in corporations and educational institutions for research and development. She taught the introduction to graduate research in the California State University System. She has authored a family history under contract and biography with the support of NPS, both based on oral history interviews.

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