Years ago, I had a side business I called, “Speak Easy.” I described it as “docu-daries” for families wanting to record their history. I loved doing it and captured dozens of family farm stories over the years. For Farm Bureau families, you might know one of my subjects: The Cecil Miller Family, formerly Arizona Farm Bureau president.

Well, along comes one of my favorite people and he’s developed a similar business model. Vance Crowe, so proud of your Legacy Interviews! I feel at peace now that someone as professional as Vance will record these legacy stories (I often felt I was falling short not continuing the business because there are so many important stories to capture!)

Legacy Interviewshttps://www.legacyinterviews.com/ is a service that video records individuals and couples telling their life stories so that future generations can know their family history.  Our service has helped hundreds of people from throughout the United States and Canada take the time to record the stories of their lives, and the memories of their ancestors and talk about what they are hopeful for.  

“Most of the time people come to our private St Louis recording studio where they sit down with me for a half day or full day,” says Crowe.  “We also do online recordings and have recently recorded the life stories of two Arizona ranchers you may know, Virgil and Meredith Barnard and Andy and Mary Beth Groseta. And will travel to people’s homes or ranches if they want something extra special.”

Legacy Interviews cover five areas of life ancestors, childhood, career, marriage/parenting and the wisdom learned along the way. 

“Most of the time, Legacy Interviews are given as a gift and parents/grandparents who are traditionally humble people are reluctant to start, but during our sessions they end up loving the process of taking the time to look back,” adds Crowe. “I have discovered that people who have lived magnificent lives seldom take the time to reflect and are often shocked because they thought their stories were boring and instead are filled with adventures, overcoming obstacles and lots of love/connection.

“I’ve been doing this for three years now and have a small team that helps me record, edit, schedule and send the interviews. We deliver the interview in three different ways so that it can be preserved for generations.  We first send a video link, then a way to download it and then we send an M-disc which is a DVD made of a special porcelain-like material that will be readable for hundreds of years. This is the archive technology and will likely be useable at any archive library long into the future (right now this is what the Mormons and Dept. of Defense use!).”

Finally, Crowe explains, “We always say that while the interview experience is profound and fun, the best part we have heard is watching these interviews with your whole family gathered around. This leads to more questions, connections and understanding of who the family is.”

Vance, proud of your work. It will make a difference for families. You’ll experience grown men crying and families even reconciling because they heard each other’s family stories and it created a renewed pride in the family legacy.