Oral History – Fact or Fiction

Our family’s oral history may involve stories of the immigration of the family to America or it may be as simple as saving a family recipe. The information we obtain through conversations with relatives must be taken at face value. But remember that memories often fade and facts get confused with other facts. Some of the facts may not seem accurate but remember that some parts are probably true.

It takes practice to recognize what parts of oral history should be believed but in most cases all portions of the stories should be researched to confirm their validity. Remember that we may never find the complete story because some information simply isn’t available. Also be patient and research the facts thoroughly.