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Helpful Oral History Prompts to Get Your Older Relatives Talking

We all have a story or two to tell. But when we are met with resistance from relatives who are too bashful to tell us the stories of their lives, it can create holes in our family history research that can often result in empty family tree branches.

Conducting oral history interviews with your older family members is that important when it comes to your family history research. The memories your relatives have of their own lives hold a good amount of historical importance — even if family members don’t think their lives were particularly interesting! In fact, oral history interviews can sometimes lead to the discovery of ancestors you never knew about in the first place. But if you don’t record these stories now, they could be lost forever.

So how do you get your older relatives talking about their lives? The following oral history prompts and tips may just jog the memories of your older relatives so you can capture and collect their important stories.

As you perform research on your family history, the discussion will inevitably turn to your grandparents and great-grandparents at some point. And one of the most fun things to discuss with your family members will be the different types of sayings and slang that used to be prevalent back in the day.

You’ll certainly remember some of these sayings, as a lot of them are still in use today. But there are plenty of others that are relics of the time period. All of them, though, offer a great insight into how your relatives used to talk when they were younger. And most of all, there are going to be a ton of these sayings that you’ll wish people still used today.

If you’re interested in your family’s history and anything related to ancestry, you should definitely take these 25 genealogy quotes to heart. Some are funny, some will make you think and some will simply re-affirm your passion for investigating and uncovering the past.

Enjoy! (Got any other favorite genealogy related quotes, too? Let us know!)

If you’re in the midst of your genealogy research, or just looking to start, and it’s centering around the state of California, you’re in luck. Here at Crestleaf, we’ve put together ten of the best sites for California genealogy records, family history resources and blogs that you can find.

No matter what level of researcher you are, these are resources that will be of great use to you. Every little bit helps when you’re building a comprehensive family tree!

If there’s one thing to know about genealogy, it’s that there is a limitless wealth of information about it – from learning about starting your genealogy research to discovering how to properly take care of family heirlooms, there are so many elements to consider and organize.

But that’s why we’re here to help. Below, we’ve provided ten genealogy blogs that you need to be following right now to work your way towards becoming an expert in genealogy and creating your own family tree.