Family Folklore
How to Collect Your Own Family Folklore

We hope that the stories, photographs, and accounts of traditions in this guide inspire you to collect the folklore of your own families. But where does one start? Through the years we have developed some guidelines, which may be adapted to your own needs and circumstances. You might want to get started before the inspiration slips away and even to jot down some of the stories and traditions this exhibition has brought to mind.

Getting StartedThe EquipmentThe PeopleThe Interview
Some Possible Questions for InterviewsPresenting Your Findings
Ethics in InterviewingCredits & Further Reading

This guide was produced to accompany the exhibition, The Grand Generation: Memory, Mastery', Legacy, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Office of Folklife Programs and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). SITES is a program activity by the Smithsonian Institution that organizes and circulates exhibitions on art, history, and science to institutions in the United States and abroad. To view other exhibitions by SITES, visit SITES on the web.