Every baby in Brownsville was photographed on it. You won't live forever, but your personality might. The elder's personality, values, and beliefs are woven into the stories. While all elders are storytellers, few are writers. Encourage them to tell their stories for you to write.
Elders love seeing their stories in print.
Even more satisfying is knowing future generations will read them. They'll not only be remembered, they'll be helping to educate them. If you don't have time for interviewing your elders and writing their stories, consider hiring a professional author. Future generations will thank you. Heirlooms Grandma Ida, the Harnessmaker's widow, was famous for her homentashen, a pastry traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Purim.