|
|
2008 Backgrounder on the Association of Personal HistoriansFor Immediate Release
View/print the full version of the APH Backgrounder ( Personal Historians Save Lives - One Story at a TimeSummary
Do you know the story of your grandparents’ lives? Do the young people in your family know the stories of their elders and ancestors? Or do they know more about the celebrity couple-of-the-month than they do about their own blood relatives? Is your community or organization fostering future growth by preserving its past? Many of us say we want to find the time to interview aging family members or record our own life stories, but we put off doing it — often until it is too late, when those who lived the stories are too frail to tell them, memories have faded, or their voices are silenced forever. Increasing awarenessInterest in genealogy has escalated over the past decade, but genealogists soon realize that what is missing from the data they collect are the stories that put flesh on the bones of their ancestors. And two things keep them from preserving what stories they can — lack of time, and lack of skill.The good news is that more than 600 members of the Association of Personal Historians Inc. (APH) are available to help. Founded as a U.S. organization in 1995, APH now has members throughout North America, as well as in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. “The common thread among personal historians,” says APH President Paula Stahel, “is a passion for gathering and recording personal stories. We all believe that to understand who we are, we must understand who we came from. Knowing the stories of our families — whether we love them or not — provides a perspective on what we have done and can do in our own lives.” An independent writer for more than 25 years, Stahel operates Breath and Shadows Productions in Tampa, Fla., and teaches life writing and memoir at the Life Enrichment Center. “There were fewer than 75 members when I became active in APH in 1998,” she said. “When I began telling people I specialized as a personal historian, the immediate question was always: ‘A what?’ In just ten years, the term has become familiar. Now, most people I meet express an interest in preserving the story of someone in their family or the excitement of having done so. But too often, they lament that it’s too late — their parents or grandparents are gone, or dementia has stolen the memories. There’s a true sense of grief when the stories are lost forever.”
More than just individual stories“Story-catching is not just for families,” says APH Vice President Pat McNees. Based in Bethesda, Md., she has written many organizational histories, including a lift truck firm in Ohio, the Young Presidents Organization, and the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — the nation’s research hospital. “Companies and organizations also want their stories told, for all kinds of reasons. Often it’s easier for someone to come from the outside to ask the ‘dumb’ questions that elicit an interesting, worthwhile story.”McNees, who teaches a course on life stories and legacy writing at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, also helped write the memoirs of a Philadelphia pediatrician and of a Connecticut engineer who managed research and development on America’s nuclear submarines. Besides getting the narrator’s story through interviews, a personal historian will often do research to place the individual’s story in historical perspective. “Compiling a corporate or life story is a daunting task,” Stahel points out. “Most people don’t know where or how to start. Emotional dynamics often affect working with our own family members. A professional personal historian has the skills needed to help even the most reluctant storyteller share a fascinating story or valuable lesson. Working with a skilled member of APH turns the process from overwhelming to energizing. “Cultural and ethnic backgrounds also influence the process,” Stahel adds. “Descendants of European backgrounds gravitate toward recording their stories in print, and ethical wills are an important part of the Jewish tradition. Native North Americans and African-Americans tend toward oral history. Many cultures pass down their stories through song and performance art. And now, people of all ages are embracing new technologies as ways of sharing their stories with others.” Professional skills affect resultsWhile the rich and famous have long employed professional writers and editors to help with their memoirs, the concept of personal historians helping “ordinary” people tell their stories is relatively new. APH, founded by Kitty Axelson-Berry in 1995, has led in developing the profession.APH members bring expertise to this emerging field from successful careers in such professions as journalism, education, broadcasting, video, film, psychology, law, social work, gerontology, therapy, hospice, and medicine. Asked about their professional backgrounds in an APH member survey, 76 percent of respondents reported experience in writing, 30 percent in history, 21 percent from psychology or social work, 21 percent came from broadcasting, 31 percent from publishing, and 70 percent had prior experience doing interviews. Personal history services are labor-intensive, involving hours of interviewing, transcribing, filming, editing, revising, and preparing materials for publication or broadcast. Prices vary widely, depending on the length and complexity of the process. Costs range from several hundred dollars to $40,000 or more, while fees for organizational histories are substantially higher. Though some projects can be completed in a matter of weeks, most require between six and twelve months, and some can take up to two years. Often, a personal history is commissioned as a gift — for a holiday, special birthday, anniversary, or milestone event. Family members frequently share the cost, making the project an affordable investment for everyone, from which all benefit. Histories of companies and organizations are used for promotion, to boost employee morale, to explain the organization to donors and supporters, or to inform clients and vendors. Copies of the works are often donated to local or university libraries and historical societies, where they are valued as special community resources. Occasionally these projects achieve commercial publication and success. Many options availableAPH members gather memories and life stories by recording people telling their stories, by teaching others how to capture their own or others’ histories, or by participating in community efforts. The works are preserved in a variety of formats, including books, CDs, DVDs, and websites.Many APH members have specialized training or skills required for sensitive projects — such as those involving hospice patients, breast cancer survivors, Holocaust survivors, or veterans. APH is a premiere partner of the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. Contact information for APH members qualified to address specialized areas is provided below. Benefits of reminiscenceTime after time, APH members witness how therapeutic both reminiscence and life review seem to be for those whose stories are being told. Sons and daughters concernedabout their aging parents’ reliving the past find comfort in learning that, far from being the rambling of lonely old souls or a sign of incipient dementia, life review is a natural stage important to an elder’s well-being. In re-examining key moments in the past, those telling their life stories gain a new appreciation of their experience and its outcomes.Several studies show that writing about life experiences strengthens the immune system. The first was reported by University of Texas professor James Pennebaker, whose 1997 book Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions is widely used by teachers and psychologists. The April, 1999 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, reported immune system benefits in asthma and rheumatoid arthritis patients who participated in a study which replicated Pennebaker’s work. Other professional journals have covered the topic, and a wealth of anecdotal evidence published in professional literature suggests that the life review process helps overcome depression, increases problem-solving skills, enhances self-esteem, and can help the grieving. Personal History attracts increased attentionPersonal history has begun to enjoy a higher profile, with major stories on APH members appearing in recent years. Coverage typically highlights the pleasures and benefits of telling one’s story.The list of publications includes the Atlanta Journal- Constitution, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, the Denver Post, the Hartford Courant, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, the Montreal Star, the National Post, the Toronto Star, and The Vancouver Sun. Articles have also appeared in Good Housekeeping, AARP: The Magazine, Real Simple, Forbes, Worth and Money magazines. Televised stories have been presented on “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” and “The Jane Pauley Show,” on CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC. APH members have been interviewed extensively on radio, including National Public Radio and the Canadian Broadcast System. Where to learn moreThe APH website provides a wealth of information and resources about personal history, and advice on how to capture one’s own or a relative’s life story. Visitors to the site can locate personal historians by geographic locale and areas of expertise.For more information on the Association of Professional Historians or services provided by its members, visit www.personalhistorians.org or contact Paula Stahel, APH president, at 813-251-8187 or president@personalshistorians.org Additional contactsThe following are but a few APH members qualified to discuss specialized projects and able to provide additional contacts and resources for stories.
APH Leadership - Board Members
| ||||
|
Home · Join · Getting Started · Personal History Services · Members' Area ·
|
||||
|
Contact Us
Copyright ©2007 Association of Personal Historians, Inc. |
pdf).