It’s a good idea to interview family members but remember that answers given are from the perception and memory of the person you are interviewing. Some remember certain items while others remember something completely different. Some answers might not even be truthful so probably best not to argue with the person so the interview doesn’t end. That being said, it is best to write down or record what they said.
The way I interviewed by Father was to take him on a drive to the area he grew up. We drove around the area and his memory just popped up with a lot of stories.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- Use open-ended questions gets more answers to your questions.
- Tailoring the questions to your interviewee.
- Make sure you speak from your listing of questions with you so you stay on track.
- Can you record or video tape the person?
When personalizing your questions follow the persons life starting with birth. Each person’s life goes in different directions so you will need to follow their individual road. I would follow by years of life so you don’t skip a detail. You can even ask questions in 10 year increments.
Questions that involve most individuals:
- Full birth name, were you named after anyone?
- Baptism name, date and place. God Parents?
- Education school, studies, interests
- Summer activities
- Holiday rituals, with whom and where?
- Hobbies
- Volunteer, church involvement and beliefs.
- Parents, grandparents, children names and where did they live.
- Stories of memories of each family member
I’m sure you can think of some more questions that are individual to their life but this will be a good start.