Family interviews

Hi neighbors. Have a cup of coffee and relax for a while.

Wednesday my son and I spent the day in Bolivar.

First we visited the genealogy library and then spent the evening at my aunt's home.

My son bravely held up under countless introductions to 'some-kind-of-cousins' and even tolerated digging through obituaries and probates with me. He manned the laptop genealogy program for me. I was so proud of him! Although he was helpful at the library, he became invaluable at my aunt's. We had gone prepared to do a video interview with her. Bill handled the camera.

I don't know who enjoyed it more. As my son sat and listened to tales of his more recent ancestors he actually laughed out loud at several of them.

My aunt kept getting tickled at his laughter and burst into laughter herself. Although the video turned out well, I don't think it recorded all of the mirth and mayhem involved in making it.

We were pretty late getting back home, but the trip was certainly worth the time and gas.

If you still have elderly relatives living close to you, please consider doing a formal interview with them. Whether you use a simple cassette recorder, a video recorder, or just take notes; don't let their stories go untold.

Call them several days ahead and make the appointment. They will feel better knowing they have time to dress nicely and get their hair done. Let them know what the interview will involve so they can think about it. My aunt had "primed" herself ahead of time, trying to remember things she wanted to tell.

Sometimes using old photos will help. Take some with you, or ask them to bring out their photo albums, and record the stories about each photo: who the people were, where they were and what they were doing when the photo was taken, etc.

We took a CD with all of my oldest photos on it.

Here are some questions I asked. While there are many more you can think of yourself, these might help you get started.

First, make certain they introduce themselves, and say when and where they were born.

I sat off-camera and read these questions aloud. If you don't want your own voice recorded, go over the questions with them ahead of time, or make cards to hold up with the questions on them. Make certain they can read them without squinting.

Where did you live as a child? Where did you go to school? What were your favorite subjects in school? Did you play an instrument? What games did you like to play as a child? What kind of music did/do you like? Is there a favorite song you remember? Do you have a favorite movie or TV show? When did you get your first radio/TV/car? What was that day like? What was a typical day when you were a child? A teenager? Did you see your cousins very often? Where and when? Did you have a favorite aunt or uncle or other relative? What are some things you like to do now? What are some things you have done or seen in your life that you never imagined as a young child? Tell about your mother's parents; where did they live? Did you visit them often? What do you remember about their home and lifestyle? Tell about your father's parents; where did they live? Did you visit them often? What do you remember about their home and lifestyle? What do you remember about your father and mother? What type of work did they do? What education did they have and where did they go to school? Do you think they were happy people -- what kind of personality do you remember them having? Did they like music? Play any instruments, sing? Did they talk about their parents or childhood much? What do you know about how your parents met? Their courtship and marriage? How did you meet your spouse? Where did you get married? What kind of work did they do? Where did they go to school? What kind of personality did they have? Did (s)he like music, play and instrument, sing or dance? Did (s)he talk about his parents much? You'll find they remember little incidents and stories as you ask the questions. Let them tell them. If they wander off the question, that's wonderful! This is where you can get some of the greatest oral histories of your family.

Until the next time friends remember, we all have families and keeping those connections strong is always worth the time and effort.