This project is a natural for any type of family gathering. Just get some family or friends together and have an informal conversation -- with the tape recorder on. Pour some drinks, relax, and ask participants to retell some of your favorite stories. If you need something to get the memories flowing you can look through photo albums or scrapbooks together. It can also be fun to cook and serve a family recipe -- familiar smells and tastes have a special way of eliciting memories. The beauty of this project is that it doesn't have to follow a set agenda. Some people find this approach less intimidating than a structured interview, especially those who don't like to be in the hot seat or are shy around recording equipment. The recording might be your finished product, or you can pull out excerpts for a book or an edited recording. You may also find that some of the material provides an excellent jumping-off point for further conversations.