We can gather all manner of family history information through the interviewing process. For sourcing purposes, most of the information gathered in this fashion will be considered as anecdotal and subject to confirmation via original source documents (e.g., birth certificates, census records, etc.) wherever possible.
When to interview? Family events offer many opportunities. For example, holidays, birthdays, reunions, visits with relatives, and events like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.
During the interviews, we need to look for memories, stories, facts, and life experiences. Ask Google for the “50 Best Interviewing Questions” or something like that to get a starter list of questions.
Why? Through this process, we will learn things about ourselves, our ancestors, our family, and our friends. You will garner clues that will lead you to further interviews questions and further interviews.
What? The person being interviewed is the most important aspect. The interviewer needs mostly to listen. Listen, listen, listen! We should not interject our own stories. Be sure to ask open-ended questions that allow the interviewee to roam and expand on their answers. Take a break during the interview if needed. There is no goal line here.
You might alert your candidate in advance so they can rustle up some key memories. Ask them about family artifacts, old photos, old letters, post cards, etc. Likely a good idea to have paper, pen, and a list of questions. If folks are okay, you can record the interview via your cell phone or a digital recorder. Video recordings are great also, but beware that some folks might become quite camera-shy.
Try to interview one person: not a group. If you do a group interview, make sure each person identifies themselves as they speak. And you need to balance the input so one person does not occupy the entire session. Feel free to ask for clarification or details throughout.
Document your interview details, who, where, when, etc.
Try to follow up with a thank you and possibly any further questions. Possibly another interview.
Ron Gilmore
Email: rvg3@me.com
Website: https://rgenealogy.ca