Home > Just for Kids > Oral History > Why are family stories important?

• History books donít tell us about the personal decisions behind major events like the American Revolution or the Civil War. Oral history is interesting because it helps you understand that a personís life could have turned out many different ways, depending on the choices that they made.
• A collection of historical facts and dates can be dry and boring. But when you add someoneís memories, suddenly you can find out about how it felt to be part of those events, and feel their emotions--perhaps of fear, excitement, or joy. In the process, history can become much more exciting and connected to us.
• Oral history can also give us a peek into historical events that no one thought to document at the time. For example, few people in the U.S. during the 1850s thought to ask slaves what their life was like. In the 1930s when many of these former slaves were old, oral histories were taken with them, and their memories were recorded. Their memories would have been lost forever if someone hadnít thought it was important to write them down for the future. What events have you lived through that may be forgotten in the future if you donít write about them now?
• Have you noticed that sometimes your family or friends remember an event differently than you do? Each of us has a unique way of looking at life and thinking about it. Our memories of a time past can be special and different from anyone elseís, also. By reading oral histories we can get a richer, more detailed picture of what life was like for previous generations. Oral histories can tell us what the food was like for an immigrant, what life was like in a new country, and how family members felt about immigrating.