There’s a little bit of detective work as one prepares to create a video biography of an elder relative. I’m not going to compare it to the continuous investigation required to trace one’s family tree, but nevertheless there’s a bit of sleuthing to do. In addition to the boxes of photos and stored-away albums, documents can really help tell your family’s story. Here’s a helpful list:
Birth and death certificates
Religious records (bar mitzvah, baptism)
Book inscriptions and family bibles
Photograph albums
Scrapbooks
Letters
Diaries and journals
Family histories
Local histories
Newspaper archives
Baby books
Marriage books
Wedding invitations
Funeral books and memorial cards
Identification documents (passport, driver’s license, school ID)
Immigration papers
Naturalization papers
Land and property records
Military records
Directories (phone, alumni lists)
School records