KQED's Forum How to Create a Family Archive
Jul 25, 2025
Nisa Khan is a KQED reporter with a focus on digital hoarding and cultural experiences. Shanna Farrell, an oral historian at UC Berkeley, brings expertise in personal narratives, while Jackie Forsythe, an audiovisual archivist, specializes in home video preservation. Together, they dive into the emotional journey of creating family archives, providing practical tips for digitizing cherished memories. They discuss the importance of oral histories in keeping family stories alive and address concerns about cultural loss and accessibility in preserving personal histories.
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Jackie's Family Video Legacy
- Jackie Forsythe digitized her family's home videos because the technology to access them became unavailable.
- She now helps others access and preserve their cherished memories through digitization.
Everyday Moments Matter Most
- Small everyday moments on home videos offer rich, emotional connections beyond big events.
- These scenes capture authentic family life more holistically than typical short phone videos.
Oral History with Family
- Shanna Farrell started oral history by interviewing her parents despite advice against it.
- Her father's stories differed when recorded, showing how interview context shapes narratives.
