“Chronologies, ancestries, and even achievements may reveal curiously little about a man or a woman. On the other hand, the smallest things may offer vital clues.”
—Ann Roe

Story preservation in all its glorious forms

DUAL COLLECTION
Via research archive: “A trove of never-before-seen material offers an intimate, expansive look at the personal and professional lives of [Joan] Didion and [John Gregory] Dunne, two giants of American letters,” as the New York Public Library opens the couple’s archives to anyone with a library card.

AN INTIMATE, UNFILTERED NARRATIVE
Via newly released book: Joan Didion’s diary is about to become public. It’s described as “‘a moving and profound record of a life of ferocious intellectual engagement,’ and as a raw, vulnerable account from a writer who was acutely conscious of her public image.”

OWNING HER STORIES
Via scrapbooking: “I have told so many stories since I started [scrapbooking] in 2002,” Ali Edwards writes. “I know this to be true because it has been a massive piece of my life, but when I come face to face with the photos and words and creative play, I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”

TRADITION, CRAFTSMANSHIP, LEGACY
Via coffee table book: The Book of Birkenstock (Steidl, December2024 “is a true visual time capsule of a quarter-millennium story of tradition, function, and quality.” It’s an incredible example of a company history morphed into a work of art unto itself, and the accompanying microsite—with timeline, graphics, and chapters including a family history—is its equal.

‘AN APPETITE FOR STORIES’
Via fiction: Claire Messud’s “new work of fiction is inspired by her own lineage (including an unpublished 1,500-page family history written by her grandfather), but its historic range and stylistic inventions drive it far from discussions of ‘autofiction’ or ‘memoir.’”

THE SOUL OF A PLACE
Via house history: “These people trod the floorboards that we tread; they slept in rooms that we’re sleeping in. It’s quite moving.” A look at the boom in turning genealogical curiosity towards the places we live.

In remembrance…

IT’S ABOUT PERSPECTIVE
“How do we keep the memory of our loved one alive when the person she used to be is disappearing?” Plus helpful things to consider when communicating with someone with Alzheimers.

TOOLS OF ARTISTIC REMEMBRANCE
“Like memoirs, photographs, letters, hats, and oral histories, chatbots of the dead can serve the manifold goals of our memory quests, giving context to our lives, relationships, and identities as they help us forge connections across time.”

Little life stories

SIDESTEP REGRETS
“I wish I knew why Mom moved to New York when she was just 16.” “I wish Papa told me how he makes his Sunday sauce.” Don’t wish for stories; ask for them.

THE SUDDEN SACREDNESS OF THE ORDINARY
“What’s so special about a ceramic cookie jar or a prayer book? What’s the significance of a little creature like Mr. Bubbles? When you lose your home in a wildfire, those small things become larger things.”

IN CONVERSATION WITH CASEY MULLIGAN WALSH
“My son…said that for every scene, he could have written his own version, which is totally valid. But he also understands that memoir is how these events happened through the eyes of the author, and he’s proud of me for publishing our story.”

...and a few more links

• Typography evolves as a storytelling tool.

• Tips for editing your own written work, from Marjorie Turner Hollman.

• 13 new celebrity memoirs

• Finding evidence of the start of generational trauma in military records

• The power of digital life story work for children in foster care

• Family of WWII Soldier discovers legacy, builds bonds in Belgium.

• Apple Photos vs. Google Photos: Which is best for organizing and editing your pictures?

• “Dave Eggers wrote a remarkable memoir, but its afterlife was even more extraordinary.”

• Diana McCaulay on finding your story in that of your ancestors.

• Seven memoirs that “show the many sides of Cuba”

• “The Digital Packrat Manifesto”

Short takes