Why Record History

The value of preserving your history cannot be overstated. Recorded personal, family, and public histories give us a sense of who we are, where we come from, and where we are going. In today’s mobile and rapidly changing society, our most important bonds often weaken with geographical and generational distance. Recording and preserving our stories, be they personal, family, or larger histories, is a wonderful gift and a priceless legacy to ourselves and to those we love, now and into the future.

Consider a few of these proven benefits:

For Listeners

To gain a sense of the narrator’s history
To gain an understanding of themselves, their roots, their connection to a history larger than their individual lives
To bridge generation gaps and strengthen family and community ties across generations

For Narrators

To engage in a fun, creative, and meaningful process
To contribute to broader history
To connect to younger generations
To facilitate life changes and transitions
To heal, make peace, and achieve closure
To leave a lasting legacy to one’s family and loved ones
To give an incredible gift

For the Future

To gain a sense of connection to one’s ancestors
To understand cultural and historical roots
To inherit a valuable legacy beyond material possessions

Click to view ‘Why Us’

We were very, very pleased with the results [of the oral history project]—the rapport you established with each of the various members, of different ages and attitudes, and the business like manner in which the job was done.

Don Green

Chair of the Edith S. Green Oral History Project, Temple Emanu-El, California

Being videotaped was so much easier than I had anticipated. Many of my concerns were eliminated at our first preliminary meeting.

Raymond Marks

Banker, California

My parents felt comfortable with you and shared details that might have been lost forever had you not been such an experienced and professional interviewer.

Edith

Editor, Wisconsin

I learned so much. I had no idea my grandmother spoke 5 languages! I also realized that my aunts both earned their masters degree – such modern women for the 1940s!

Helen

Daughter, Wisconsin

It’s been a wonderful experience. One great advantage of an oral history conducted by a pro, like yourself, is you think at the time you know everything you’re going to say and remember. And then in the context of a focused, professional interview, a light goes on and you remember things that had been buried. We’re talking about the obvious, and suddenly, buried, hidden under the obvious, is new stuff. It’s wonderful!”

Kenneth Roy Feinberg

Attorney, Special Master, 911 Victim Compensation Fund

Anita Hecht recently presented her life history work in a panel about writing memoirs at our college. Her professionalism and expertise was immediately obvious. She not only understands the societal importance of recording our personal histories but also the integrity and quality with which those stories are told — in terms of presentation, respecting the goals of her clients, and creating a well-crafted narrative. The audience left feeling both enlightened and inspired by her work.

Guy

College Educator, Wisconsin

I thank you very much for the interest you placed in this work, based on your intelligent and skillful questions that did not interrupt the flow of the conversation, but were inserted at the appropriate places.

Rina

Daughter, Mexico

You have a way of putting your subjects at ease and making them feel as though they and their personal stories are the most important of all the ones you have done.

Marvin Schonberg

Administrator/Writer, California

The preliminary meeting also made me more comfortable so that at the interview itself, I could relax, ignore the camera and just have a pleasant chat, reminiscing with you.

Melvin

Retired Businessman, California

Being interviewed was a moving experience for me largely because of your sensitivity and capacity to sense the directions into which we should head.

Hildegard

Psychotherapist, California