[2024-05-21] Family history: grandparents, parents, siblings

Last week, I shared the first installment in a series of posts based on the book Recording Your Family History by William Fletcher. The book offers advice on conducting a life history interview, which Fletcher defines as an audio or video recording of an older person's oral history for the benefit of future generations.

Today's post shares a selection of questions that Fletcher included in his chapter "Family History," supplemented by a few from my own compilation of questions.

Grandparents
  • Where and when were your grandparents born? What was their country of origin or ancestry?
  • If they emigrated from another country, do you know when and why they emigrated?
  • How did your grandparents meet, and when and where did they marry?
  • What did your grandparents do to make a living and a home?
  • How many children did your grandparents have?
  • How important were your grandparents to you? Did they have any influence on you?
  • Do you have any specific memories of them?
  • Did they pass any habits or traditions onto subsequent generations?
  • What stories were told about your grandparents or other ancestors, such as what life was like?
  • Do you take after any of your grandparents?
  • Did any of your grandparents pass down a family heirloom?
  • Where and when did your grandparents die? Where were they buried?
Parents
  • Where and when were your parents born?
  • Did they share stories about their life when they grew up?
  • How did your parents meet? How long did they date and what was dating like?
  • What did your parents do before they married (e.g., school, work, travel)?
  • When and where was their wedding?
  • Where did they go for their honeymoon?
  • What did your parents do to make a living and a home?
  • How many children did your parents have and who were they?
  • Was your mom a good cook?
  • Did she make something that you especially liked? Can you make that food?
  • What were your parents special talents (e.g., sewing, carpentry)?
  • What things are you good at that your parents were good at too?
  • How would you describe their parenting style?
  • What is something your parents often said?
  • Were your parents active in the community?
  • Do you have any specific memories of them?
  • Did they pass any habits or traditions onto subsequent generations?
  • Are you more like your mother or your father? Why?
  • Did you inherit something from your parents that you still have today?
  • Where and when did your parents die? Where were they buried?
  • What stories did your parents share about their life?
  • What is the most important thing you learned from your parents?
  • What is the nicest thing your parents ever did for you?
Extended family
  • Did you have any favourite uncles, aunts or cousins who were important to you?
  • Why were they important to you?
  • How often did you see them?
  • What stories were told about life for your parents and their siblings?
  • Was there anyone else associated with your family who was important to you?
Brothers and sisters
  • How many brothers and sisters do (did) you have and who are (were) they?
  • Did you help to take care of any of your brothers and sisters, or vice versa?
  • Do you have any funny stories about your siblings?
  • What did you do with your siblings (e.g., play games, do chores)?
  • Which brother or sister were you closest to? Why?
  • Do you have a special memory of any of your siblings?
  • What is the nicest thing your brothers or sisters ever did for you?