When Mathew Litt decided to leave his job as an attorney with a prestigious Manhattan law firm, he had a new career in mind. Last January, the Manalapan native founded Bridge Biography, which captures family histories through narratives with family members.

After hearing their stories, delving into their memories, and conducting numerous question-and-answer sessions, Litt, 29, assembles an heirloom book that contains the completed biography. The book is a gift for future generations, who will be able to learn about their roots and heritage, Litt said.

The name of his enterprise signifies the bridges and connections that extend from generation to generation, he said.

Litt thought long and hard before he changed careers.

"I practiced law for five years in New York City, but I realized I wanted to do something that was more gratifying," Litt said. "I have always been interested in history and family heritage, and I wanted to leave the world of litigation and use my writing, research, and interview skills for something that was meaningful and would endure."

But Litt's grandfather's 90th birthday celebration last year was the real catalyst for Bridge Biography. After a chat with his grandfather, Allen Cederbaum, Litt realized he knew very little about his family's history.

"I suddenly realized that there was so much about my family's heritage and Jewish lineage that I was not aware of," he said. "I wanted to know who my grandfather was named after and how he celebrated his bar mitzva. How did his family celebrate Hanukka? How did he meet my grandmother?" (Answer: They met at a ski resort in 1947.)

With the support of his parents, Michael and Marilyn Litt, who are members of Temple Beth Shalom in Manalapan, and his wife, Erin, an elementary school teacher in the borough, Matthew Litt established Bridge Biography. So far, he has completed four biographies and is working on five more; the families he works with are both Jewish and non-Jewish, he said.

Piecing together a thorough biography involves many thought-provoking conversations with family matriarchs and patriarchs and other family members who want to share biographical information, Litt said. Personal anecdotes, photos, family scrapbooks, newspaper archives, and Internet research often provide background information for the Bridge projects.

"I learned that adult children really want biographical knowledge and that their older relatives love to tell stories about their lives," said Litt. "I get so much information by talking to them and listening to their stories."

Throughout the research process for each of his current projects, Litt discovered a plethora of interesting information about the families who have engaged his services. For example, in one family, Navy veterans of World War II related their life-and-death adventures, such as when Japanese kamikaze planes were headed toward their ships. Many of his Jewish interviewees related incidents of prejudice and discrimination that they experienced when they were children and young adults. Stories about Pearl Harbor and the Depression era also emerged.

Others have quietly told him about the Holocaust and their survival, and families who viewed the Holocaust from the safety of their American homes also have discussed the issue at great length. Some Jewish war veterans who were stationed in the Pacific felt a sense of frustration because they were unable to help the Jews in Europe, Litt said.

And although some memories are painful, his clients still appreciate the chance to tell their life stories, and their children and grandchildren treasure the preservation of their family's history, he added.

Litt said Bridge Biography also has generated a sense of personal satisfaction.

"I have the opportunity to learn about people who share something meaningful with me," Litt said. "I love to hear about the Jewish history of other families — I feel a kinship with them because of our shared religion. But it's challenging to make them comfortable enough to take that stroll down memory lane."

Litt spends approximately 50 hours on each project. That time frame allows him to conduct the interviews, compose the family history, fact-check his information, and assemble it in book form. In addition to the printed history, the completed books often contain photos and copies of relevant family documents, Litt said.

"I think I've found the mechanism to gather information and preserve it for posterity," he said. "The biographies are fascinating, and their contents disclose a lot of information about Jewish culture, both past and present. The preservation of family history is a valuable thing."