Family history often lives across albums, recipes, letters, migration documents and the memories of a few relatives. Start by gathering what exists and identifying the stories only particular people can tell.
A useful collection does not need to be exhaustive. A few well-labelled recordings with dates, names and context can be more valuable than boxes of unidentified material.
Build a sustainable archive
Record who is speaking, when the conversation took place and the broad subjects covered. Scan or photograph supporting documents without altering originals. Ask permission before sharing sensitive material, especially information about living relatives.