Conducting Interviews Are Very Helpful When Researching Your Family History
One important objective when researching your family history is to conduct interviews, and it is to uncover information that may lead to other persons or sources of information. Before arranging your first interview with an unknown relative, you might want to familiarize yourself with the methods oral historians use. The interview process can be divided into three stages: the initial contact, the interview itself, and the pursuit of all new clues. How you approach your relative is critical. Although many people, in particular older relatives, welcome the chance to reminisce and share the memories of parents and childhood, you should proceed tactfully. Some people are sensitive about being questioned, especially about their families.
Unless you are interviewing a close and known relative, such as an aunt, uncle, or grandparent, with whom you can usually arrange the interview by telephone, your initial contact should be by letter. It will allow you to introduce yourself and explain what inspired you to begin your genealogical project. It will also give you the opportunity to tell how you found the relative's name and address and what information you seek. In addition, you can inform him of any kind of special equipment, such as a tape recorder, that you would like to bring to the interview.
Give your relative some time to receive your letter and think about your request, then telephone him to set a specific date for the interview. At this time you should find out whether he objects to the use of a tape recorder, many of which are now quite unobtrusive. You might point out the value of recording the full conversation, which you could not do using pen and paper, but do not insist. You want to instill trust and confidence, and not inhibit the person in any way. Your questions should be simple, direct, and focused on the type of biographical and vital information you need.
Typical questions might be "Do you remember the names of your grandmother's brothers and sisters?", "When did your grandmother marry?", and "When did your father's mother immigrate to the United States?" Some may not recall specific dates and ages, but you can sometimes compensate for this by associating questions with a particular period in your relative's life or with a major episode in American or world history. Such questions might be "Were your grandparents still alive when you were in high school?" or "Was your grandmother alive during the First World War?"
If your relative expresses an interest in what you are doing, offer to share your information. People are often more generous if they know they aren't doing all the giving. In addition, you will probably gain a valuable correspondent, a source of further information, and a friend.
Following the interview, listen to the tape carefully, perhaps several times, extracting all information pertinent to your research. Very likely the interview will suggest new questions and further avenues of research and thus lead to further meetings with this relative. If an oral interview is not possible because of distance, expense, or sickness, you might prepare a questionnaire. Outline what you already know about each individual or family, and leave space for your relative to complete the missing information.
