Oral History – Asking the Right Questions

In a family history interview, questions assist your family member’s memories, and asking the appropriate questions will offer you the best chance of success. Consider your aims when determining which questions to ask: What do you already know? What do you want to learn? About which persons and events is your family member likely to be the most knowledgeable?

Keep the following points in mind as you prepare your questions:

Do your homework. Make use of your family charts and notes to help you generate questions to fill in some of the gaps in your study.
Instead of closed-ended questions that just require “yes” or “no” answers, ask open-ended questions that encourage personal input.
Experiment with drawing out facts as well as feelings and descriptions. While you should always try to uncover specifics such as names and dates, keep in mind that facts also include how, why, where, and with what results.

Sample Interview Questions

What is your full name? Do you know why your parents gave you that name? Were you named after a family member, or someone famous or well-known? Do you have a nickname?
When and where were you born? Do you recall any anecdotes your parents told you about your birth? Do you have a copy of your birth or baptismal certificate?
When and where were your brothers and sisters born? Did they marry? Did they have families? (Follow up by obtaining details) What were they like? Do you have any favourite memories of them?
When and where did you meet your spouse? Were they your first love? Can you tell me about the proposal, the wedding ceremony, the honeymoon…?
When and where were your parents born? What are their full names? What do/did they look like? What were their occupations? How did they meet and marry?
Where and when were your grandparents born (both sets)? What do/did they look like? What were their occupations? How did they meet and marry?
Who was the oldest person in your family when you were a child? What are your memories of them? Do you recall going to see other relatives or family friends as a child?
Did you ever serve in the military? If so, what encouraged you to enlist? Which branch of the military did you serve in?
Are there any family items, traditions, or customs that have been passed down from generation to generation (this might include anything from naming rituals to jewellery to recipes)?
What was life like when you were a child? Tell me about your childhood home and what everyday life was like. How was your home heated and lit? What kind of household duties were you in charge of? Did you have indoor plumbing? How did you do laundry and take showers? How did you spend your weekends and holidays?
How is the world different now than it was when you were a child?
What do you know about your surname’s origins? Where did it come from? What does it mean? Is it possible that the spelling has changed in the past?

These are just a few examples of the kinds of questions you can ask. Depending on what you hope to get from your interviews, the possibilities are limitless.

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