How to Interview Family for Genealogy

The holidays are approaching, and for many of us, that means spending time with family. These get-togethers may be a prime opportunity to interview family for your genealogy.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard statements like, “I wish I asked my grandma about…,” or “I wasn’t interested in genealogy when my granddad was still alive. He would tell us these stories, but I can’t remember the details.”

Family members from earlier generations can provide information that may not be available to the public yet. They may also provide information that won’t show up in public records. The information your family members can provide may be the most valuable information you have. Don’t let an opportunity pass and use the following tips to plan for a successful interview.

Identify the person or people you’d like to interview.

Typically, you will want to interview the oldest generation you can. You may hope to interview a couple, and you will have to decide if you want to interview them together or separately. If one is a “talker,” interviewing them separately may allow the quieter of the pair to have a chance to tell his or her own story.

Determine when you’d like to conduct the interview.

Holiday get-togethers may be convenient. But be realistic. You don’t want to attempt to interview a loved one if you have to continuously check on the turkey or on your toddler. Decide on a time when you can give your undivided attention. Alternatively, talk with your loved ones while doing a cherished family tradition. Ask your grandma to tell you where she got her recipe for cranberry sauce, and talk to her while she’s making it. Just don’t get in the way! This year I want to ask why in the world we had a disposable shot glass of V-8 at my aunt’s house before Thanksgiving dinner.

Ask in advance if you can interview them about their family history.

This can be especially helpful if you are hoping to conduct the interview at a family event. It is easy to let the day get away from you. If both parties agree, the interview will more likely occur. Set a place and time.

If they agree, ask if they’d like to be interviewed in private, or if the whole family can participate.

Depending on how much one enjoys being in the spotlight, your family member may be perfectly happy to talk one-on-one. But he or she may clam up if they feel like the spotlight is on them. This should be a positive experience for everyone involved. The person being interviewed in particular needs to feel comfortable.

Ask if you can record the interview.

This is not necessary, as you can always take notes. However, getting a loved one on video is a great gift. First, you will ensure you get the details correct. You can refer back to the interview if needed. Consider alternatives for recording if your family member hesitates at being interviewed. My parents and grandparents purchased a Hallmark recordable book when my daughter was two. They took turns reading Twas the Night Before Christmas. My grandparents have since passed away. But getting to hear my grandparents reading to us each Christmas is such a precious gift.

Ask if a child can conduct the interview.

This tip is especially helpful if your subject is tentative or resistant. It is harder to say no to a child, especially if the child is a grand or g-grandchild. In addition, it is a great way to get kids interested in family history.

Focus on what only your subject can tell you.

There are a lot of great interview questions online to help you conduct your interview. One of the best I’ve found is Kimberly Powell’s, “50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History.“¹ The questions she poses focus less on dates and facts, and more on the context of their lives. Don’t focus on questions that you can find through other sources. Rather, ask open-ended questions that will add context to your ancestors’ lives. Learning, for instance, that my great-grandmother was a suffragette who missed voting in her first election because she was in labor means more to me than her stating the dates of birth of her children.

Regardless of how you conduct the interview, be sure to document the name of the interview subject, the day, time, and location in case you need to cite the interview in the future.

I hope you have a very happy holiday season, and I’d love to hear if you had success interviewing your family members. What other tips would you offer?

1. Kimberly Powell, “50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History,” ThoughtCo (https://www.thoughtco.com/fifty-questions-for-family-history-interviews-1420705 : accessed March 10, 2022).

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