Can You Use Oral History in Family Writing? Absolutely — If You Do It Right

Devon Noel Lee
Jun 29
4 min read

Have you ever heard a family story that made you stop and think, "That can't possibly be true!"

Maybe your great-aunt swore that your ancestor walked across an island to escape a tsunami. Or maybe your cousin remembers being told that your great-grandfather was royalty "back in the old country." But when you search for proof? Not a single document in sight.

This challenge brings us to a great question asked by Tracy, one of my viewers:

"Can I include details that were told to me? No documentation? It's oral history."

My answer?

Yes — absolutely. But there's a right way to do it.

Whether the story was passed down around the kitchen table or preserved through generations of tradition, oral history has an important role to play in your family history writing.

Let me show you how to include it with care, honesty, and context.

A person wearing a feathered headdress and necklaces gazes to the side in a grassy outdoor setting.

Oral History Has Deep Roots

Before we dive into writing techniques, let's pause to recognize this: Not every culture uses documents to preserve family history.

For many of our ancestors, oral tradition was the only way to pass down identity, memory, and meaning.

Some examples:

Rapa Nui (Easter Island): Genealogies were memorized and recited in ceremonial chants, maintaining ancestral ties across centuries.
Samoa: Families and villages preserve their histories through oral tradition, with some lineages tracing back over 30 generations.
Ireland: Local lore kept family and place-based stories alive long before written parish records began.

If we discard stories just because they're not "proven," we risk silencing the very voices that have guided our families through time.

But — and this is important — we still need to signal to readers where the line between fact and family lore lies. That's where strong writing practice comes in.

How To Include Oral History in Family History Well

1. Say Who Told You — and When

Acknowledging your informant builds credibility and honors your source. It also helps future researchers evaluate the story's reliability.

Better than "family stories say…" try something like:

"According to my grandmother, Tui, who told me this story in 1997 while we sat on her front porch in Apia…"

You're not only recording what was said — you're capturing who said it, when, and where. That adds richness and context.

2. Signal That It's Oral Tradition

Let your readers know when a story comes from memory or family tradition rather than records. You don't have to shout it — just give a gentle cue.

Some useful phrases:

"Family tradition holds that…"
"It is said within our family that…"
"Stories passed down in our whānau tell us…" (whānau = family in Māori)

This approach keeps you transparent and gives oral history the respect it deserves.

3. Provide Cultural or Story Context

Even if you cannot confirm the specific story, you can often place it within a broader cultural or regional tradition. That helps your readers understand where it fits — and why it matters.

For example:

"Legends of long sea voyages feature prominently in Rapa Nui oral history, including this account passed down in our family…"

Or:

"The tale of a lost heir returning home echoes a familiar theme in Highland storytelling traditions."

Even without hard proof, this framing gives the story credibility and meaning.

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What If The Oral History Is Not True?

Let's be honest: oral history sometimes gets a little... embellished.

But that doesn't mean you toss it out.

Your job is to be transparent — not rewrite or cover up the facts.

You can write:

"Although I have not found documentation to support this story, it continues to be told within our family."

Or:

"Later research revealed that no tsunami occurred in that year — but the story remains part of our family's sense of survival and strength."

That's honest, ethical, and allows the story to live on without misleading your readers.

3 Simple Steps to Incorporate Oral History Into Family History Writing

Step 1: Interview a Relative

Ask them to tell you a family story — any story. Record it if possible.

The recording itself becomes a source you can cite.

Even better? That recording can be shared with future generations, preserving the voice and memory.

Step 2: Write the Story in Layers

Try this three-layer approach:

Layer 1: Tell the story as it was told to you.
Layer 2: Explain how it fits within your family or cultural background.
Layer 3: Add your research commentary — what's documented, what's not, and what remains unclear.

This three-layer approach gives your reader a complete picture — and shows your thoughtful approach to truth and tradition.