Resource Library
A curated selection of resources for family historians, community archivists, documentarians, memoir writers and more.
How to use:
Click on a category to see all resources related to the category; or
Search by keyword; or
Check out Featured Resources; or
Browse all sources below.
Categories
Thickening the Narrative: Resources to learn, deepen, and teach untold stories, from nonwhite narrative histories, to trauma-informed research and more.
Documentary Practices: Examples of documentary writing (including memoir, personal essay, journalism) fictions based on truth (historical, autofiction), photography and film, as well as tips and prompts.
Archives: Examples of public archives of specific communities and resources for archiving your own collections.
Classes: These resources offer classes to enhance your archiving and documentary practice skills. For workshops with Amanda, please check out the Workshops page.
Oral History: Resources to help you strengthen your skills and practices in oral history collection, as well as examples for how to present your interviews.
Featured Resources:
Joyful Recollections of Trauma
Though any memoir could be considered documentary practice, this particular one was inspired by Scheer diving into his own archives (or collections). It's also hilarious and heartbreaking.
Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do
A fascinating look at jobs and what great documentation and oral history can convey.
Writing Alone and with Others
This book has a wealth of memoir writing exercises that can easily be adapted to writing about family and community histories. If your family/community responds better to writing prompts than an oral history interview, this book is an excellent resource to jog memories.