Thanks for running this course, Jane. My brother and I have had great fun in our discussions and timeline preparations for recording. We were born one on each side of the end of WW2, so a happier period than that which preceded it. One interesting aspect: we both have slightly differing memories of the same events.
We both enjoyed listening to family stories from both our parents and grandparents. Oral histories are good for recording these, although some myths can prove incorrect if tested. They do raise a laugh when uncovered, however.
Secrecy over wartime activities were taken seriously in our family and not all are available in physical records. Only as they got older, did we hear, often accidentally, their sometimes quite disturbing oral stories. You do need to map time and place, to support these episodes, which we have done, as much as possible.
With my brother we have been focusing on his early life and on his time working in New Guinea at a significant time in that country’s history. He took up photography, while he was there and was based in several locations. I’m looking forward to what he is eventually able to produce. The transcript of our discussion should help with that. Thanks again for your encouragement.
Jane, I really enjoyed this post in the distinctions you make between the academic oral history approach and a life story approach based on your journalistic experience.
I come from a slightly different but related perspective that I think contributes to the latter.
I write Life Stories for those who are in palliative care, so it is very much a personal document whose content is very much determined by the patient. Capital T Truth really no longer matters as the patient is encouraged to write from their own perspective ( the small cap truth).
It is interesting to see how some families want to control the story and what content is expected to be included or excluded.
Making meaning is the absolute glue that brings light to the eyes of those who know they have nothing to lose by telling their truth.
Hello Jane. I love hearing about your project for dementia patients as I think it highlights how it will offer the individual a visual of their life curated by them as opposed to a lovingly developed memory book organised by the family.
Hello Alison, I am delighted to hear about your work in the palliative space. Apart from teaching the oral history course to the Society of Australia Genealogy, I am piloting a project with telling the life stories of dementia patients (early diagnosed). I help them to create a biographical slide show. There are so many applications. I think it's all valid. Thanks for reaching out!
This was such an interesting read, thank you. I’m not strictly researching family, but I think my research fits your description. I’m interviewing people in Italy (mostly in Puglia) and gathering their memories linked to recipes or ingredients. Of course, personal stories emerge. I look forward to reading more of your posts to see how I can apply what you teach to my research.
This article clearly describes your approach to the essence of a life story.
For me, that means making sense of my own life but also how I emerged to be who I am now.
Your guidance has pearls of information e.g. stories that are reflected on more than once, life moments that ‘surface unprompted’ and metaphors become “clues to identity, values, and self-understanding” ( Hutcheon, J., 2026).
I also appreciate your description of your five stage process.
I really understand why writing or creating an audiovisual presentation of a personal life story is important.
Thank you for sharing this substack post and all the best with the online presentation starting soon on Feb 17 2026.
Thanks for running this course, Jane. My brother and I have had great fun in our discussions and timeline preparations for recording. We were born one on each side of the end of WW2, so a happier period than that which preceded it. One interesting aspect: we both have slightly differing memories of the same events.
We both enjoyed listening to family stories from both our parents and grandparents. Oral histories are good for recording these, although some myths can prove incorrect if tested. They do raise a laugh when uncovered, however.
Secrecy over wartime activities were taken seriously in our family and not all are available in physical records. Only as they got older, did we hear, often accidentally, their sometimes quite disturbing oral stories. You do need to map time and place, to support these episodes, which we have done, as much as possible.
With my brother we have been focusing on his early life and on his time working in New Guinea at a significant time in that country’s history. He took up photography, while he was there and was based in several locations. I’m looking forward to what he is eventually able to produce. The transcript of our discussion should help with that. Thanks again for your encouragement.
I’m so pleased Carole!! That’s such a great outcome.
Interesting take on oral history Jane🪷🌱🙏
Thanks Dion. Lovely to hear from you.
Jane, I really enjoyed this post in the distinctions you make between the academic oral history approach and a life story approach based on your journalistic experience.
I come from a slightly different but related perspective that I think contributes to the latter.
I write Life Stories for those who are in palliative care, so it is very much a personal document whose content is very much determined by the patient. Capital T Truth really no longer matters as the patient is encouraged to write from their own perspective ( the small cap truth).
It is interesting to see how some families want to control the story and what content is expected to be included or excluded.
Making meaning is the absolute glue that brings light to the eyes of those who know they have nothing to lose by telling their truth.
Hello Jane. I love hearing about your project for dementia patients as I think it highlights how it will offer the individual a visual of their life curated by them as opposed to a lovingly developed memory book organised by the family.
Created by, rather than made for….
Hello Alison, I am delighted to hear about your work in the palliative space. Apart from teaching the oral history course to the Society of Australia Genealogy, I am piloting a project with telling the life stories of dementia patients (early diagnosed). I help them to create a biographical slide show. There are so many applications. I think it's all valid. Thanks for reaching out!
This was such an interesting read, thank you. I’m not strictly researching family, but I think my research fits your description. I’m interviewing people in Italy (mostly in Puglia) and gathering their memories linked to recipes or ingredients. Of course, personal stories emerge. I look forward to reading more of your posts to see how I can apply what you teach to my research.
This article clearly describes your approach to the essence of a life story.
For me, that means making sense of my own life but also how I emerged to be who I am now.
Your guidance has pearls of information e.g. stories that are reflected on more than once, life moments that ‘surface unprompted’ and metaphors become “clues to identity, values, and self-understanding” ( Hutcheon, J., 2026).
I also appreciate your description of your five stage process.
I really understand why writing or creating an audiovisual presentation of a personal life story is important.
Thank you for sharing this substack post and all the best with the online presentation starting soon on Feb 17 2026.