A few years ago, a survey of members of the Association of Personal Historians about their “past lives” yielded interesting results. Members bring a wide array of skills and experiences to this profession. Some have worked as attorneys or psychologists, some as mediators or counselors. Many come from fields involving the written or spoken word—from journalism to broadcasting.
I came to my new career in personal history from court reporting. As independent contractors, court reporters move beyond the courtroom, inhabiting a parallel universe of personal history, recording life stories.
As natural-born listeners (and personal historians in a sense), court reporters are predisposed to memorializing events. The personal history business has become a field court reporters easily relate to and transition into.
After spending three decades as a court reporting agency owner in New York City and on Long Island, I decided it was time for a change of pace, so I immigrated to the legacy profession. I always loved hearing my grandmothers’ stories about their early childhood . . . and there were lots of stories. I started helping others memorialize their stories for coming generations to enjoy.
It’s funny, that change of pace I was looking for really turned out to be not that much change at all, except for the venue: from courtroom to living room. As a personal historian, I consider the storyteller “the witness.” The “swear-in” is their introduction with their name, address, and date of birth. Photographs and personal memorabilia are “exhibits” and friends and family are “expert witnesses.” There is technical, legal, and medical “testimony” when corporate clients tell about starting their business (perhaps decades earlier) and the evolution to present day. There’s even “off-the-record discussion” when recording is paused for an occasional break.
Believe it or not . . . in court reporting stenography, this says: “I’m a personal historian.” (EUPL=Im; AE=apostrophe; AEU=A; PERPBL=Personal; HEUS=His; TOR=tor; KWRAPB=ian; FPLT = . (period) You might find it interesting to learn that all letters on the same line are depressed at the same time—at 225 words per minute!—not individually depressed like in regular typing.
Of course court reporting skills are not required for those pursuing a career as a personal historian. The job requirements are simple: exemplary interpersonal communication skills, organization (you are an independent contractor after all), and good business acumen—along with a passion to preserve our heritage, in print, audio, or video.
What skills do you have from your current career that would make you a great personal historian?
~APH: The Life Story People~
About today’s contributor: Deborah Tomasetti Perham owned a court reporting agency with offices in New York City and on Long Island before opening her own personal history business, A Lifetime Legacy, in 2012. She specializes in audio and video recordings, printed memoirs, and treasured family recipe books. She is an active member of the Association of Personal Historians, currently serving as secretary on the Executive Board.