Interviewing relatives to learn more about your family history
If you want some really good and juicy information when you trace your family history, you have to interview your relatives.Here are a few tips to prepare for a family interview:
1. Asking the right questions. Preparing a list of questions ahead of time will give you a better feel of what you’re going to get out of the interview. Write down a list of questions that you’d like to ask during the interview. However, don’t use these as the only part to your interview, because letting them lead the conversation will be more beneficial. Some of the best information comes from memories that your interviewee dredges up mid-conversation rather than in response to a question.
2. Grab the video or audio recorder. This saves your having to frantically scribble notes and lets you relax, develop or display your interest and really get a flavor of what the interviewee is saying. It’s always a good idea to ask if recording your interviewee is okay. If you both agree that a video would be better, consider videotaping the session. That way you create a fuller record of the interview because you can see the expressions on the interviewees’ face as he or she talks. It gives the existing generations and the ones yet to come a glimpse of the past.
3. Use visual aids to help them recall events. Often photographs can help to jog memories and have a dramatic effect on the stories that the interviewee remembers. Sometimes the conversation will hit a wall, and it’s a perfect time to bring another visual aid out. Since our technology today allows you to scan photos and everything else, you can print off a bunch of copies and keep the originals safe.
4. Recognize and respect the feelings of the interviewee If you notice your interviewee is trying to withhold information on a particular event, don’t push the issue. It’s possible that they aren’t in the right frame of mind to talk about the past, or they have to stop and think about the particular moment. If you notice this happening, just ask for an interview on another date or ask a different family member.You don’t want to cause any ill feeling.
5. Be grateful.-5. Make sure you show gratitude. Take the time to thank your relative for spending time with you. If they enjoy your discoveries, let them know you will keep them informed of your family history research. The best way to keep everyone informed is to create your family tree online. My recommendation is to set up a free account on Mundia.com. You will be able to collaborate with other family members about your family tree and any information someone remembers can be added later. They can also upload photos, add documents, or even give a little input to help further some of the stories.
It’s likely that all this time spent on tracing your family history could change your mind about history being a boring subject!
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Tagged with: create family tree • research family history • researching family tree • trace family history
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