A grandparents' memory book using photos and conversations
Make a grandparents' memory book by collecting their photographs and asking about particular places, objects and events. Keep each account attributed and let them choose what stays private.
Bring a few photographs to each conversation. Ask about an old street or school picture rather than requesting a whole life story at once.
Show them the pages before finishing the book. Correct names and remove anything they do not want included.
Make a book from these memories
Add your photos and keepsakes, then put the book together in your browser.
Choose a few items to discuss
Try photographs from different periods, or a photo and a household object. Keep track of which album or collection they came from.
Ask who is in the picture or where the object was kept. Move on if they do not know or do not want to discuss it.
Keep the speaker's name with the account
Write down who supplied each recollection and when. If you record a conversation, ask permission and agree who may listen to it.
They can write their own account if they prefer. Help organise it and check factual details with them, while keeping their words.
Review the pages together
Use larger photographs and short sections rather than a dense timeline. Put names close to the faces they identify.
Review one spread at a time and write down corrections. Check those changes before finishing the book.
Pages to make
A childhood place
Pair an early portrait with a house, street or school image. Include their own account of one recognisable place.
Work and making things
Show a workplace or a finished project beside an object used there. Add the names of the people they identify.
A household gathering
Use a photograph of a regular meal or family occasion. Keep each person's recollection attributed if several relatives contribute.
A keepsake they chose
Photograph a chosen keepsake from two angles. Place its date, owner and their own explanation beside it.
Questions
What should I ask grandparents about their photos?
Ask who is pictured and where the scene took place. Follow up with a question about that particular day rather than asking for their whole life story.
What if they do not remember a date?
Keep the date approximate or unknown. Check other dated material later, without presenting your best guess as their confirmed memory.
Should grandchildren contribute too?
Give them a separate page for a shared event or an object they recognise. Keep their account distinct from their grandparent's recollection.