Interviewing family members is one of the best ways to research your family tree and trace your family history.Here are a few tips to prepare for a family interview:
1. Prepare a list of questions that you want to ask. Preparing a list of questions ahead of time will give you a better feel of what you’re going to get out of the interview. So write down a list of questions before you go. However, don’t use these as the only part to your interview, because letting them lead the conversation will be more beneficial. Allowing them to remember the past on their own will be more beneficial than just asking questions.
2. Bring a tape or video recorder to the interview. If you bring something to keep track of the event, it’s much easier than trying to scribble notes throughout the entire interview. Always ask the interviewee’s permission before you start recording. If you both agree that a video would be better, consider videotaping the session. This gives you the true expressions and emotions of the individual being recorded. Your children, their children, and generations to come can view these when they get older.
3. Help them recall events with pictures and documents. If you can match the photos, documents or newspaper clippings up with your questions, it will allow the interviewee to jog their mind of this particular moment in time. These can also help the rhythm of a conversation flow smoothly. Thanks to the fact that copying photos is a lot easier than it once was, you can take copies of your old photos using a scanner, print off as many copies as your need and keep the originals safe at home.
4. Respect the feelings of the individual you interview If your relative isn’t forthcoming about certain pieces of information or you sense that he or she is becoming tired or losing enthusiasm, don’t push for more, however interested you are. It’s possible that they aren’t in the right frame of mind to talk about the past, or they have to stop and think about the particular moment. If you notice this happening, just ask for an interview on another date or ask a different family member.You definitely don’t want to cause any tension.
5. Show some gratitude. Take the time to thank your relative for spending time with you. Also, invite them to keep up with your family history research by sending them new information when you get it. Most will say yes, and the easiest way to keep everyone informed is by learning to create your family tree online. A great website for building your family tree and tracing your family history for free is Mundia.com. You will be able to collaborate with other family members about your family tree and any information someone remembers can be added later. Not only can they add information but they can also upload photos, important documents that they might have as well as stories that they might remember.
It’s likely that all this time spent on tracing your family history could change your mind about history being a boring subject!
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