Web Site Driven Memoir Research Data Base?

Hi,

Two friends of mine, a married couple in their seventies, mentioned just the
other day that they plan to begin writing their memoirs after the first of
the New Year. As the conversation proceeded one mentioned that reading a
letter from an old friend had triggered thoughts of events and people that
he had totally forgotten. He then said that he make notes of memories as a
head start to the writing project.

These folks have filled many roles during their complex working careers, as
social researchers, teachers, lawyers, book and article writers, historians,
organizers and activists. They have friends in all walks of life that also
have made an indelible mark the last century. And like a lot of people they
are not up to the latest geek technology, they do not have a web site, but
only use the web and word processing programs.

Sitting there, my own thoughts raced with web site driven technologies,
questions:

Where or how to find the technology for them to use that would facilitate
bringing most of their past people relationships into a Web Site Driven
Memoir Research Data Base?

Some criteria come to mind.

The site should be user friendly to non-geeks, visitors screened prior to
registration to dialog, capable of collating information into manuscript
form.

Has anyone done this type of site?

Is this a build from scratch?

What applications could be cooked or remade for this project?

Blogs? Discussion boards, Mail server Lists?

Or perhaps am I just off the map with geek fascination?

Can't wait to hear what you have to say.
======================================

Pepe wrote:

 > Hi,
 >
 > Two friends of mine, a married couple in their seventies, mentioned just
 > the other day that they plan to begin writing their memoirs after the
 > first of the New Year. As the conversation proceeded one mentioned that
 > reading a letter from an old friend had triggered thoughts of events and
 > people that he had totally forgotten. He then said that he make notes of
 > memories as a head start to the writing project.
 >
 > These folks have filled many roles during their complex working careers,
 > as social researchers, teachers, lawyers, book and article writers,
 > historians, organizers and activists. They have friends in all walks of
 > life that also have made an indelible mark the last century. And like a
 > lot of people they are not up to the latest geek technology, they do not
 > have a web site, but only use the web and word processing programs.
 >
 > Sitting there, my own thoughts raced with web site driven technologies,
 > questions:
 >
 > Where or how to find the technology for them to use that would facilitate
 > bringing most of their past people relationships into a Web Site Driven
 > Memoir Research Data Base?
 >
 > Some criteria come to mind.
 >
 > The site should be user friendly to non-geeks, visitors screened prior to
 > registration to dialog, capable of collating information into manuscript
 > form.
 >
 > Has anyone done this type of site?
 >
 > Is this a build from scratch?
 >
 > What applications could be cooked or remade for this project?
 >
 > Blogs? Discussion boards, Mail server Lists?
 >
 > Or perhaps am I just off the map with geek fascination?
 >
 > Can't wait to hear what you have to say.
 > ======================================

Maybe <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.movabletype.org/" target="_blank">http://www.movabletype.org/</a>

gtoomey<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->