Anthropologist Teaches Seniors Class Life Story Writing

"Voices from the Past, Gifts for the Future" is the motto for a class of seniors aged 50 on up, who participate in "Life Story Writing - A Guided Course in Memoir/Autobiography Writing. The class is taught by Anthropologist Myla Collier and is part of the Cuesta Community College Adult Emeritus classes, San Luis Obispo County, California. Retrieval of detailed memories from 40, 60 or 80 years ago, by using Myla's system of Memory Joggers for each time period in life, enables students to write and preserve their life stories.

Myla teaches a group of life story classes in San Luis Obispo County,Ca., and the Grover Beach class is shown in the photo. From left to right are Olivia Scholz, Jessie Stone, Cheryl Hagopian, Gary Simms, Mary LeBlanc, Anthropologist and Instructor Myla Collier, Sara Medzyk, Arnie Dowdy, Phyllis Simms, Susie Tacbas, and Chester Johnson. (Photo by student Kristi Gott, not pictured).

Elders storytelling and seniors' life story writing are popular trends today. Classes and groups can be found through local community education programs, college programs, and genealogy groups.

Traditionally seniors have been society's storytellers, who preserved the family history, and passed on details of an era to the next generation. Seniors' life story telling is a chance for family and friends to gather around, and hear about times that have disappeared forever.

Instructor Myla Collier sits at the end of the table in the photo, with Phyllis Sims, age 80, sitting on her right, sharing her life story. Her husband, Gary Sims, age 81, also a prolific life story writer, sits to the left of Myla. The class gathers round to share and discuss. Chester Johnson, age 84, far right, is also a skilled storyteller. He shares many interesting facts in his life stories about growing up in Louisianna.


In my current class we link the historical events with life events, and write a chonological life story, starting with birth. Photos and other memory treasures are brought to class and become part of each life stage, as we write the life stories. As class members create a written record of their life histories, they often include valuable genealogy information that will be passed on for generations.

Sharing their life stories brings people closer to each other. Seniors often find that writing life stories helps them to feel more comfortable with the past. Painful events can be softened by the passage of time, and humorous events might become funnier in the retelling.

Putting the events together, in a chronological narrative, makes many people feel that having a timeline makes looking back less confusing.

Teacher and Anthropologist Myla Collier advises students to use the Memory Joggers which are part of the class materials. She also says that if a memory keeps coming up to "go ahead and write it down while it is fresh in your mind."

Examples of Memory Joggers are questions such as "What were your first impressions as you started school?" Many people are surprised at the details they can remember once they get started.

Using photos and family memorabilia helps jog the memories also. The class members agree that writing a life history provides good mental exercise. Sharing life histories with class members, family and friends provides a chance for social interaction.

Many life history writers also become active with family history and genealogy.

Tips for Seniors About Life Story Writing or Telling

Anthropologist Myla Collier teaches a class on Life Story Writing for Seniors through Cuesta Community College Adult Emeritus, San Luis Obispo, California. Seniors learn techniques for memory retrieval that include using "memory joggers" because some of the experiences they write about happened more than 50 years ago in their lives.

Throughout history seniors have traditionally been the family historians, adding their life story to the life stories of the ancestors. Genealogy and family trees are related topics that seniors also may research and preserve.

The class offers seniors helpful techniques that include how to write a chronological life history that starts at birth. Seniors learn to feel more comfortable with their memories, and to accept the good times and the difficult times as an integrated part of their lives.

Humorous anecdotes, the development of interests and careers, and life stages are all included.

Examples of the way others told their life stories include Grandma Moses. Her autobiography started as follows:

"I, Anna Mary Robertson, was born back in the green meadows and wild woods on a farm in Washington County in the year 1860, September 7, of Scotch Irish paternal ancestry. Here I spent the first ten years of my life withmy mother, father, and sisters and brothers. Those were happy days free from care and worry."

Writing or telling a life history can be a wonderful activity for seniors. Some people dictate the story into a tape recorder or record it with a videotape.

Describing the styles and trends of an era 50 or 80 years ago and adding the historical events and facts helps to create the setting and time so that others can picture it. Memories become sharper when instructor Myla reads an historical synopsis for a time period, such as the 1950's.

The seniors I've assisted as a caregiver have enjoyed discussing their life history. I frequently use techniques I've learned in Myla Collier's class. Many people make a book out of their life story, and these histories or memoirs are given to relatives and added to the family heirlooms.

Seniors writing a life history refresh their memories, organize the memories chronologically, and enjoy creating a book reflecting life lived during the various historical eras.