A:  Yes, absolutely!  If you have photos on a CD or that you can e-mail to Collected Roots, this will help the process go smoothly.  If not, simply provide us with the actual photos and we will scan them for you.  We will return them once they are scanned.

A: Collected Roots is located within the Washington DC/Metro Area, the same area that we serve. While we are able to work with clients outside of the Washington DC/Metro area, it is very unlikely that we will be able to provide the interview portion. To date, our geographical restrictions have not proven to be that great of an obstacle.

We have worked with clients from as far West as California, North to Michigan and New York, and South to Florida!

On rare occasion communication takes place between Collected Roots and various members of our client's family members. In general, this communication is in regards to clarification of an exact detail. 

Collected Roots has brought new life to outdated technology, musty journals and you name it we have probably seen it! By working with your families cherished heirlooms and converting them to written text, you will be provided with multiple high quality copies to share!

A:  Yes, we can add these items as well.  The same scenario applies as with the photos.

A:  No, not in the traditional sense.  However, our services are considered to be similar to that of oral history or family folklore.  We refer to this type of preservation as                     “the good stuff”.  Your stories are not facts or data that can be found in any archive other than your mind!

A:  Two hours of conversation generally transcribes into 25-28 pages of text.  As photos, documents, etc. are incorporated into your collection, the page number increases accordingly. It is then bound into a hardcover which can accommodate up to 50 pages.  The remaining pages consist of “To Add’s”, which can be considered as notes pages.  Our clients and other family members use these pages to provide additional comments, sign the actual book and possibly ask the Storyteller for more information regarding a particular story.

A:  Not to worry!  Presently, Collected Roots can bind up to 350 pages.

A:  In these situations, rates are charged on an hourly basis.  Our hourly rate is $50.00 per hour.  Generally, it will take 2 hours to transcribe 15 minutes of recorded conversation.

A:  We have found that 2 hours of steady conversation is the comfort level for most storytellers.  Less than 1.5 hours results in the storyteller trying to rush their stories in order to get them all in, while 2 ½ hours or more can be tiring.

A:  Collected Roots is well aware that this situation may occur.  When a break is needed we schedule a time for the recording to continue.

A:  Recordings should take place in a location that is comfortable and convenient for the storyteller.  In most cases, recordings take place in the home of the storyteller.

A:  Yes.  The quality of the recording will be much better if the area is as quite as possible.  A TV or radio playing in the room or even in the background can result in a very poor recording.  Poor quality recordings require more time to transcribe and may lead to numerous spelling errors. Whenever possible recordings should take place one on one with the storyteller.  For example, simply by having a spouse or a family member within hearing distance of the recording can influence the content of the stories that are shared.

A:  The storyteller does this for us.  Once the transcription is complete, a word document is sent to them.  This document is composed of sentences from the transcription which include highlighted names/places in question that need to be clarified.  The storyteller corrects these highlighted areas and sends the document back to Collected Roots.

A:  Rest assured that we understand the basic rules of sentence structure, grammar, etc.  However, we do not provide you with an “edited” version of your loved one.  How they speak is how we transcribe.  Some individuals are surprised to read how they speak and it can be somewhat troubling to them.  Although, when it is given to fellow family members, most respond with a large smile on their face and say, “That’s my Dad/ Mom/Grandpa!  That sounds exactly like them!”  We feel that this is what our clients desire as well as what we pride ourselves on.

A:  No, we do not.  We believe that video cameras make most people feel uncomfortable, which can then interfere with the storytelling process.  Our digital recorder is very discrete and allows for a very normal conversation to take place.  In addition, once the collection is bound, there is no worry about any technology going out of date.  Books have been in print for thousands of years and are surely to be here for many more!  Your collection is considered a family heirloom and can be passed down throughout the generations without the worry of it being a hassle as a result of out-dated technology.

A:  Yes, references are available upon request.  While our list of clients is steadily growing, many eagerly have asked to be placed on our list of references.

A:  We can offer our services for many situations.  Your creativity is our best friend.  As long as the outcome of your project can be placed onto an 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper, most likely we can make it happen.  Customized packages are priced depending on what is required.  Some examples of customized packages include:  histories of vintage car restorations (popular at cruise-ins and car shows), histories of older homes (includes photos, information of previous owners, civil war history, etc.) and family reunions (stories collected from many family members).

A:  Not only does it make for an excellent anniversary gift, we also work with clients who desire a highly personalized touch for any occasion.  Other examples include birthdays, holiday gifts, Mother’s and Father’s Day, weddings and especially retirements.

A:  Even better!  The more items that you can provide us with will produce a more cost effective product for you.  Often there is a significant savings to our clients who are able to provide us with this type of material. However, a specific price cannot be given until each situation has been evaluated appropriately.

A:  As described above, the more material you can provide us with initially will save us time and therefore would cut the cost of the package.  And another noteworthy scenario is how some of our clients have split the cost with their other family members.  For instance, sharing the cost among as little as four family members ($243.75 each) makes a package much more palpable.

A:  Many people mention that they wish that we would have been around “x-number” of years ago when their parents/grandparents were still alive.  Their parents/grandparents had so many wonderful stories and they knew all of the genealogy, etc. 

It is not too late to capture the basis of these stories.  Sure, the details may be off a bit, but the context will remain the same.  We encourage them to get these stories on paper and stop the cycle from repeating itself.  If the remainder of these stories goes unrecorded, your grandchildren down to your great grandchildren will be left without the “good stuff” that family histories are made of. 

Also, many people don’t think of themselves as having a story to tell.  Their elders are the ones that automatically come to mind as being the “storyteller”.  Collected Roots believes that everyone, young and old, has a story to tell that’s worth preserving.