Unlock Your Family's Genealogy with Family History Interviews!

Unlock Your Family's Genealogy with Family History Interviews!

The holidays are a great time to reconnect with your family and learn more about your ancestors. One of the best ways to do that is by interviewing your relatives and asking them about their memories, stories, and experiences. Interviewing your family can help you discover new information, fill in the gaps, and preserve your heritage for future generations.

​But how do you conduct a successful family history interview? Here are some tips to help you prepare, conduct, and document your interviews.

​How to Prepare for a Family History Interview

​If you are planning to interview your family members about your genealogy during the holidays, you need to do some preparation beforehand. Here are some steps that you can follow to make sure your interview goes smoothly and productively.

1. Define your goal. What do you want to learn from the interview? What are the main questions or topics that you want to cover? Having a clear goal will help you focus your interview and avoid getting sidetracked or overwhelmed by too much information.
2. Do some research. Before you talk to your relatives, try to find out as much as you can about your family history and genealogy. You can use online databases, records, documents, or other sources to get some basic facts and background information. This will help you formulate more specific and relevant questions and avoid asking things that are already known or obvious.
3. Choose your interviewee. Who in your family has the most knowledge or interest in your genealogy? Who can tell you stories or anecdotes that you have never heard before? Who can provide you with documents or photos that you can use as prompts? You can also interview more than one person at a time, as long as they are comfortable with each other and willing to share.
4. Prepare your questions. Based on your goal and research, make a list of questions that you want to ask your interviewee. You can use general questions, such as "Where were you born?" or "What was your childhood like?" or more specific questions, such as "When did our family immigrate to this country?" or "How did you meet your spouse?" You can also use prompts, such as photos, maps, or objects, to spark memories and stories. Try to avoid yes or no questions, and instead ask open-ended questions that encourage elaboration and detail.
5. Set up the interview. Choose a time and place that is convenient and comfortable for both you and your interviewee. Make sure you have enough time to conduct the interview without interruptions or distractions. You can also ask for permission to record the interview, either with audio or video, so that you can review it later and preserve it for future generations. If you are interviewing someone remotely, you can use phone calls, video calls, or online platforms to communicate.​ 

By following these steps, you can prepare yourself for a successful genealogy interview that will help you learn more about your family history and heritage.

Some Questions to Ask during a Family History Interview

• Start the interview with some easy and general questions, such as their full name, date and place of birth, parents' names, siblings' names, etc. This will help you establish a rapport with your relative and confirm some basic facts.
• Then, move on to more specific and open-ended questions that bring out stories and memories from your relative. For example, you can ask about their childhood, school days, hobbies, friends, marriage, children, career, travels, etc. You can also ask about their ancestors, such as their grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., and what they know or remember about them.
• Be respectful and attentive during the interview. Listen carefully to your relative's answers and follow up with more questions if needed. Avoid interrupting or correcting your relative, unless there is a factual error or misunderstanding. Show interest and appreciation for their stories and opinions.
• End the interview with some closing questions, such as what advice they would give to younger generations, what they are most proud of in their life, what they hope for the future of the family, etc. You can also ask them if they have any documents, photos, or artifacts that they would like to share with you or that you can copy or scan for your records.
• Thank your relative for their time and cooperation. Let them know how much you enjoyed the interview and how valuable their information is for your family history research. You may also want to send them a thank-you note or a copy of the interview transcript later.
  

Interviewing your family is a rewarding and enriching experience that can help you uncover your roots and connect with your past. By following these tips, you can make the most of your interviews and discover new aspects of your family history and genealogy!