11/22/2025
We here at the A. D. White Research Center have been busy sorting and organizing the history of Avella Area families like yours, and we realized that this upcoming holiday season presents a plethora of opportunities to capture your family’s stories. You know, all those “I wish I’d written that down” moments!
In anticipation of conversations that will happen while you’re catching up and getting reacquainted with family members, we’ve put together some tips to get the stories flowing!
Here are some conversation-starter questions:
• What are your earliest childhood memories?
• Who was your childhood best friend?
• How did you celebrate your birthday?
• What is your favorite family recipe or dish?
When the story has already begun, here are some questions you can ask to keep it going:
• Where did this happen?
• Who was with you?
• Was it planned or spontaneous?
• Did anyone get hurt?
• Would you do it again?
• Did you get in trouble for it?
Some other tips:
• Put the voice recorder app on your phone home screen for easy access when the stories start! Later, you can use a Talk- to-Text application to get a transcript you can edit later.
• Show people photos and note the details in pencil on the back, capturing what you can of who is in the picture, what is the occasion, where was it taken, when was it taken. For group photos, specify names are Left or Right or whatever is appropriate so faces and named can be matched up.
• Ask others what details they can add to the info you have.
• Take pictures of items and mementos such as tickets, receipts, locks of hair, memorabilia, souvenirs of trips, etc. This can help you tie items that may be loose in boxes to the stories behind them.
We hope you capture some valuable memories and would love to hear them!
