Personal History: Not just for old folks

Personal history isn't just about older people telling stories from bygone days. It's about today.

All of us have, or will have, stories to tell, no matter what our age. Stories about family background, school, first loves, time in the military, our hobbies or travels, our celebrations, are all worth preserving for loved ones.

Remember, you are living tomorrow's history today. If you aren't interested in formalizing your stories now, jot notes to yourself in a journal so that the details that make stories sing won't slip from your memory over time.

What's your story? The topics are endless. Pick one, pick up a pen, and start writing!

Personal History on Video: Houle Trailer

View an example of personal history on video...

Who would want to read about me?

I’m just an ordinary person. I haven’t done anything special. Who would want to read about me?

We hear these objections a lot when talking about the value of personal history. In our star-obsessed culture, ordinary people believe there’s nothing noteworthy about the trials and tribulations of “ordinary” life.

Of course, ordinary people do extraordinary things every day. You know who these people are: the grandmother who serves funeral luncheons at church, the single mother who raised seven children while also earning a college degree, the office clerk who reads books to children during her lunch break, the bank executive who takes a sabbatical to volunteer at a Third World hospital. Every community – every family – has members who humbly go about the day quietly performing extraordinary acts. Their stories, once preserved, can inspire generations.

But a personal history can do more than simply honor civic-minded loved ones. Life stories allow us to connect to other people, to learn from their struggles, or to find courage in their ability to overcome, especially if we’ve encountered similar obstacles.

“The Year of Magical Thinking,” the critically-acclaimed memoir by Joan Didion, recounts the events that precede and follow her husband’s sudden death from a heart attack. Here is a story that explores as universal a topic that ever existed: death. Who among us hasn’t lost a loved one unexpectedly? Didion’s story resonates because when we read her account, we’re able to put our own experience with death into context. Her story isn’t so much about her family as it is about our family, about us.

Other people’s insight into a universal experience can lead us to a place we hadn’t before encountered, a new perspective. In this way, when we read a life story, we do so not so much to learn about them, but to learn something about ourselves. And therein lies the value of telling our stories.

The stories that resonate with us best are the ones where we recognize parts of our self in the narrative. The stories of ordinary citizens can be wonderfully unique. No one holds the same perspective on history, family, community, or birth, life and death, as do you. When you share your insight, you engage us in your uniqueness. We learn about you, yes, but we also learn about us. And this is how we connect.

Get Mom talking about her past

Collaborating with publishing experts

Oftentimes, the task of compiling an organizational history falls on an employee or volunteer. The reasoning: who better than an insider to explain the intricate workings of his or her company? But the opportunity cost of assigning corporate history to a novice who is not trained in the genre can be great.

An experienced publisher of history products will listen to and relies on its client’s expertise and collaborates with in-house experts to effectively communicate stories. Writers of corporate or personal history also understand modern readers, including how to meld narrative, typography, photography and page design to capture readers’ attention in order to communicate its client’s goals.

Confidentiality is always a client concern when bringing in an "outsider" to conduct research into a company’s or family's past. Histories in the Making guarantees that all research findings and interview transcripts will be held confidential; furthermore, its employees and contractors always conduct themselves with courtesy and professionalism as they interact with client representatives (current or retired), community leaders, industry professionals and others.

Corporate Histories, Part II

Corporate histories are different from traditional historical narratives. Because corporate histories are public relations vehicles, expect to find stories that are current or even forward-looking included alongside stories of the past. This juxtaposition of past and future allows the reader of a corporate history to insert him or herself right into the narrative, right into the story with which he or she is most familiar: the company of today.

Who is the audience for a corporate history? The answer depends upon the company producing the history and what goals are trying to be achieved through publication. One of the first things management needs to determine once it decides to produce a corporate history is audience. For whom will the history be produced?

Nearly as important to the process as defining audience, is for management to determine the goal of the history. Should the corporate history generate “buy-in” among stakeholders for a strategic shift? Should the corporate history inform new communities who aren’t yet familiar with the company? Should the corporate history thank employees for faithful service or for enduring difficult challenges? Should the corporate history build brand awareness? Should it build unity among diverse employee groups or markets? A corporate history, an effective one, will serve a greater role than merely celebrating the past. Each company will define its goals differently.

Corporate Histories, Part I

The approach of a significant anniversary often spurs a company to consider documenting its history. A centennial or sesquicentennial seems a natural time to share with employees, customers, shareholders, and the community, the story of how the business came to be and the ways it has adapted in order to reach such a milestone anniversary. In this regard, a company history can be a true celebration.

Anniversaries aren’t the only occasion to spur a company to consider telling its story. A merger or acquisition, an expansion into a new business line or entrance into a new market, all become opportunities to not only reflect, but to communicate the benefits and opportunities resulting from a strategic shift.

No matter which type of occasion spurs a company to consider telling its story, it’s important to realize that a corporate history can accomplish many communications goals. While a celebration of the past certainly can build camaraderie among stakeholders, a successful company history can do so much more than just celebrate.

A company history is a public relations vehicle; it can build public awareness, become a lobbying tool, explain a new strategy, give community leaders or the media a glimpse of corporate culture, and explain the source of company values. Also, by generating excitement among stakeholders, a corporate history can open the door for a company that wants to build on past successes by setting a new course for the future.