Everyone has them! Family stories passed down from generation to generation as gospel. Here are a few suggestions on including them in your family history.
(1) When you interview family members, record the conversation or take very good notes. Also have your questions ready in advance. You may need to prep them a bit... "What happened when great-grandma.....?
(2) Verify as many historical details in the story as possible. See what does and doesn't fit, then double-check the details.
(3) If you have questions about some of the details in the story, conduct a second interview. If another family member is aware of the story, interview them to see what matches and what doesn't.
(4) Put together your version of the family lore based on interviews and your own research.
Now comes the tough part! If your research blows the family tales to shreds, what do you do? Do you blindside the relative who related the story by announcing the story is impossible or unlikely? Do you take your findings to that family member and discuss them? Is that relative going to be receptive to another version of the story? Will he/she be a "that is what I was told and that's the way it happened!" type?
If the latter is the case, do you risk a rift in the family? Do you wait until said relative has passed on to publish the story? Will the outcome of the story upset the family?
It's in your hands!
Fortunately, my biggest family story that took a few hits was readily accepted by my uncle, who initially related the story.
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