Personal Historian Carolyn Kyle of Life's Brocade

We should be able to save our memories to pass them on to future generations. So many memories are lost, lying unspoken or unrecorded and becoming forgotten.

My role as a personal historian is to record and transcribe these words and thoughts into a book that can be treasured, shared and remembered.

The process includes:

I will meet with you to determine your needs and wishes. A questionnaire will be completed regarding which topics you would like covered during the interviews, and we will create a schedule and a timeline for interviews to be completed.

Depending on the needs of the client, 6-12 hours of interviews will take place over a period of time in the comfort of the client’s own home or a place of their choosing. The client has complete control over the content for the book and can add, change or delete any information that they request before they sign off with final approval of content. The stories collected will then be transcribed into written form. Although interviews will mainly be with the client, it is possible to interview other family members if requested.

I will remove my own interview questions, organize the text, delete the “ums” and repetitions of the client, complete any necessary rewriting, edit and polish the text.

After the client has read and made any corrections and deletions, I will revise and proofread the book. It will then be formatted with photographs and given to the client for final approval.

Black and/or white photos will be scanned and returned to the client safely and in original condition. Any three dimensional memorabilia can be photographed and included. Other documents can also be scanned into the book.

The final document will be professionally printed and bound into a hard cover book.

A copy of the voice recording will be given on CD to the client upon completion of the book.

An electronic copy of each book will be kept for a minimum of one year in a fire resistant box should the client wish to have copies reprinted at a future time.

An alternate service focuses on single events such as weddings, milestone birthdays, family reunions, etc.  Individuals will be interviewed at the event and the above process will be followed to create a compellation of stories.  Photos can be mailed or e-mailed to me following the event to be included in the book. 

For more information on my personal historian services please click on the links below or to the left.