Memory book template: a printable page for each contributor
Print one copy of this page per contributor: a photo space, their name and four prompts. Collect the filled pages and bind them in order, or scan them into a digital book.
When everyone fills the same page, a book made by many people reads as one book, however different the handwriting.
The template below is for one contributor and one memory. It suits a book about one person, such as a retirement or a milestone birthday, and a book from a class or team.
Fill the pages online instead
Drop your photos onto editable pages and download a PDF.
| Field | Record | Keep separate from |
|---|---|---|
| Name to publish | Contributor's chosen name | Private contact details |
| Return route | Post, handover or agreed upload | Public links |
| Image reference | File name or borrowed-print number | The original print |
| Use agreed | Book only or named wider audience | Assumptions about reading aloud |
One page, one person, one memory
Fixed fields stop pages drifting into greetings cards. When every page has a name, a date and a place, the finished book can be put in order and read.
If someone has two memories, give them two pages rather than squeezing both onto one.
Copying it for contributors
Print one per person plus a few spares. Heavier paper, around 120 gsm, stands up to being written on and posted back.
Hand pages out with a return date and an envelope, or a box at a set place. Say whether to stick a photo in the space or leave it for you to fill.
For people far away, send the SVG to print themselves, or ask them to photograph the filled page and send the picture.
For an online book, invited contributors can send photos and words in tbf scrapbook. The owner reviews the submissions and chooses what goes on the pages.
A book for one person or for a group
For one person, the prompts point at them: how you know them and what happened. Add a front page with their name and the occasion.
For a group book, use the sheet as a record of one event each person took part in. Add names and roles on a separate cover sheet rather than promising editable form fields.
Putting the returned pages together
Order pages by the date of the memory, by how people know the person, or by surname. Date order reads best when the memories span many years.
Scan every page before binding. If a page goes missing or the book is passed on, the copies can be printed again.
A ring binder or post-bound album lets late pages go in. A bound book needs every page before it goes to the binder.
Steps
Set the prompts
Keep the name and date questions. This download has fixed questions; use another sheet for any extra questions and check a test print before sending copies.
Print and hand out
Print one copy per contributor plus spares, and write the return date on each page or on its envelope.
Collect by the agreed date
Keep a return list without circulating anyone's answers. Send a reminder only if the contributor agreed to one, then allow pages to be left blank.
Order, scan and bind
Sort the pages, scan each one, then bind or file them. Add a front page with the person's name and the date the book was given.
Questions
How do I make a memory book with lots of contributors?
Give everyone the same printed page and a return date. Collect, order and scan the pages, then bind them or file them in a ring binder.
What should a memory book page include?
The contributor's name, when and where the memory happened, what happened, and a photo if they have one.
Can contributors fill in the template on a computer?
The download is an SVG layout rather than a fillable form. Print and write on it, or use a separate document for typed answers and attach the photo alongside.