A family reunion is a gathering, but it is also, if you approach it deliberately, an extraordinary research opportunity. Cousins who grew up in different branches of the family carry different pieces of the story. Older relatives who rarely see each other may share memories they have not spoken aloud in years. With a little preparation, a family reunion can yield more life story material than months of individual interviews.
Before the Reunion: Prepare Your Questions
Go in with a short list of questions rather than a vague intention to “gather stories.” Targeted questions yield better material than open-ended invitations. Consider questions that span multiple generations — things different people might have witnessed from different vantage points.
Good reunion questions include:
- What is your earliest memory of [name of older relative]?
- What’s a story about this family that you think is in danger of being forgotten?
- Who in this family do you think we don’t know enough about?
- What’s something about this family that surprised you when you found it out?
- Is there a place that mattered to this family that most people don’t know about?
Recording at Gatherings
Asking permission to record in a noisy, busy setting is easier than it sounds. A simple “Would you mind if I recorded this for the family?” is almost always received well. Many people are flattered to be asked.
A phone with a voice memo app is sufficient for capturing conversation. If there is background noise, hold the phone closer to the speaker and accept that the recording will not be perfect. An imperfect recording of a real story is worth more than silence.
Video is also possible at reunions, particularly for whole-group moments — a toast, an elder being asked to tell a favourite story, a moment when everyone present is gathered. These become irreplaceable documents over time.
The Group Story Circle
One structured activity that works well at reunions is a story circle. A facilitator — often the family member most interested in preserving stories — invites participants to share one memory related to a specific theme: “a meal you remember,” “a holiday that went wrong,” “something a grandparent taught you.” The theme keeps the circle moving while allowing genuine diversity of response.
Even fifteen minutes of a story circle, recorded, can produce material that takes years of individual interviews to match for richness and spontaneity.
Collecting Photographs on the Day
Ask people to bring old photographs. Set aside a table and some time for people to look through them together. The act of looking at photographs collectively often triggers stories that would not surface otherwise — someone recognises a face, someone else remembers where a photograph was taken, a third person disputes the story and offers a different version.
Before the day ends, photograph any images you would like to scan properly later, with permission from whoever owns them. Most people are happy to share family photographs if asked.
After the Reunion
Process what you gathered within a week while memory is fresh. Transcribe or summarise the key recordings. Note follow-up questions the conversations raised. Identify which relatives you would like to interview individually, and reach out while the energy of the gathering is still present. A reunion is a beginning, not an end.