Sunday, April 1, 2012
The Genealogy 101+ series starts at this link.
Having defined your genealogy question and brainstormed what you already know, it's time to take the next step in research. Ask your elders.
If you are fortunate to have elderly relatives, don't miss an opportunity to learn about your family's history from them. There are good ways and bad ways to approach this. I've done both. Learn from my experiences.
To avoid what you should not do, here are 10 TO DO when you interview an elderly relative.
1) Ask if they are interested and willing to help you with your genealogy research. Why? Some parents and elders don't want to talk about their family history. Some are very eager to do so. You'll know how they feel if you simply ask. And, if they agree to be interviewed, respect if they choose not to answer a question during the interview. Don't push.
2) Schedule a convenient time when preferably more than one elder can meet with you. It's also a good idea to have someone take notes for you so you can conduct a comfortable, uninterrupted conversation. The second elder person may also be able to confirm or refute what you are being told.
3) Suggest that they bring any old photographs or documents they have to the interview. It's amazing how a photo can help people recall information. Bring old photos you have that you need identified.
4) Make the session of a reasonable duration. Consider the health and well-being of the elder. For some an hour will just get them warmed up; for others, 15 minutes might be taxing. Don't over do it. Schedule a second session if they are willing rather than a marathon single interview.
5) Start by introducing your purpose for studying your family history. Tell them your genealogy question. Review your brainstormed list of facts and ask them to affirm them or clarify what you might have wrong. This is a good way to get "warmed up."
6) Recording--video and voice--are optimal and will be treasured years from now, but doing so could inhibit your elderly subjects. Ask if they are comfortable with this BEFORE you set up a recording device.
7) Come with a list of the questions you want to ask related to your research objective. To get inspired, search websites for "family history interview questions." While you want your questions answered, what you should really aim to achieve is LISTENING to what they have to tell you. Allow them to share other things they want to say. Sometimes that turns out to be as interesting or more interesting than what you think you want to ask about.
8) Be prepared to record information during the interview on two basic genealogy tools:
*First is the family group sheet. This single page lists one family--a husband and wife and their children. Dates of birth, marriage, and death for all family members can ultimately be included when they become known. Having plenty of copies of this form can give you structure to keep information straight when taking notes.
*The second is the family tree diagram. It can be a simple T starting with you and branching off to include your parents, then their parents, and so on. This will help you keep the relationships straight. Ultimately you may use any fancy tree. A simple one works beautifully to get started.
9) Ask if your relative knows if anyone in the family has compiled any family history already. Written family histories are a fabulous place to start and many, many families have already had someone do some genealogy work.
10) Thank your relative. Doing family history research is very rewarding and satisfying and they have given you a precious gift of their time and knowledge.
If you are not fortunate enough to have a parent, aunt or uncle, or grandparent still living, all is not lost. This same interview process could apply. Did your deceased elders have good friends or longtime neighbors who are still living or friends who attended the same church for a long period of time? These are all great alternatives to relatives. Don't discount them as interview possibilities!
This interview process will certainly yield you several pieces of information that will set you on the way to solving your family history puzzle.
Go to the next blog in this series here.
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