TIME TO RECORD FAMILY MEMORIES : ALMOST LEGAL (MORE CONVERSATION TRIGGERS !)

Here are more conversation starters or interview questions!

When you were a teenager did you have paid jobs? 

Were you expected to work around the house or yard?

Did you get an allowance?

Did you have a sense of being rich or poor?

Did you do volunteer work?

Who was your best friend?  How did that person influence you or you influence them?

How did you feel about your life?

What subjects at school were interesting to you?

What activities were you involved with?

What did you want out of your life as a teenager?

Did you think about having a profession or career in the future? 

Were your parents both alive?

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TIME TO RECORD FAMILY MEMORIES : MOVING TOWARDS ADULTHOOD (MORE CONVERSATION TRIGGERS !)

Here are more conversation starters or interview questions!

What were you like when you were growing up?

What clothing did you wear?

Where did you live?  Were you in the city, suburbs, country?  Did you move?  (What changes did you experience by moving to a new place to live?)

Did you have siblings? Tell me about them. Did you have a special relationship with any of your siblings?  

What were your interests when you were twelve?

What, if any, religion were you raised in?  (Did you go through rituals such as Baptism or Confirmation? How did you learn about your religion? How has being raised in a religion effected you?)

Your family heritage: What is your ethnicity, race - how do you identify?

What values and beliefs did your family have?

Were your parents members of a political party? 

Do you recall an interest in world affairs?

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TIME TO RECORD FAMILY MEMORIES : SCHOOL DAYS (MORE CONVERSATION TRIGGERS !)

Here are more conversation starters or interview questions!

Tell me about your school days.

Did you go to nursery school, pre-school, or any special programs or classes as a child?

What toys or games did you have?

Did you make or create toys or games?

How about sports? Did you participate in a sport at school?

Did you go to dancing school?

Did you bring your lunch or have lunch at school?

Did you have a lunch box or a back pack?

What was your favorite food and least favorite food?

Did your parents teach you?  Sewing? Crafts? Swimming? 

Give you advice? 

Do homework with you?  Read to you?  Care about your grades?

Tell you about their days in school?

How much education did you have? Your parents have? Your grandparents have?

Were you an apprentice?

If someone asked you what you wanted to be when you "grew up?" what did you say?

As a child, what did you think about the adults?

What do you remember about your friends?  Where did you meet them? The neighborhood, church, some other place?

Did you like to read?

Where there any books you especially liked?

What about television programs? Radio programs?

Did you listen to or watch a certain show as a family?

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TIME TO RECORD FAMILY MEMORIES : CHILDHOOD (MORE CONVERSATION TRIGGERS !)

Originally posted October 20 2022

TIME TO RECORD FAMILY MEMORIES

There is never a better time than NOW.  

If you can, record the interview.  

If interview is too intimidating a word, have instead a lovely chat.

Tell me about your childhood...

What is your earliest memory?

When did you start school?

Where did you go to school?

What  where your favorite subject(s) ? Least favorite?

Teachers?

Did you like school?  

What games did you play?

When you were five, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Do you have any hobbies or interests that began in your childhood?

Tell me about your parents...

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INTERVIEWING RELATIVES ! FORMAL AND INFORMAL INTERVIEWING

Originally posted On September 10th 2014...

Soon Thanksgiving will be here, and then the Holidays.  Of course, your best time to interview relatives may be when you go on a visit to them and life isn't overly busy.  Still, I find that visiting people during the holidays is a good time to talk about Old Days.

INTERVIEWING RELATIVES !  FORMAL AND INFORMAL INTERVIEWING

Some people respond to formal interviews better than others.

To do a FORMAL INTERVIEW you:

1) Contact the person and tell them that you want to interview them about the family history or focus on a specific aspect of family history.  Although this can be on the phone, in person is best.  Other people in this person's life need to give you both time and space and not interrupt.

2) Set up a time to focus on just that in advance that's good for both people, and be there.

3) Be prepared with a list of questions (at least to get you started) and a recording device.
(Whatever works for you.  Some people are still using cassette machines.  Some people are settling up more than one machine at a time "just in case" one of them fails."  Recording is sometimes a more natural process as taking notes can also be distracting or stop the process. You want to make eye contact, be comfortable, and listen too!)

The recording device sometimes intimidates people.  It may make the interview feel too important or heavy. You should tell them you intend to use one before hand, but it may help to put it out of the sight line.  Test your recorder to be sure it will pick up a voice from a few feet away.  Preserving the voice of a relative as they tell their story or give information can be very valuable, if you can keep doing technology updates with original recordings.  Our voices tell so much about us!

4) Set up water or tea or other beverages before you begin.  Avoid breaking the interview with eating food or other activities. Get into the flow.

5) If, however, it's going to be a long interview or a series of interviews, try to do the interview first before taking a meal or long break or wait until after the meal.  You and your interviewee will probably respond best to knowing how it's going to go.

To do an INFORMAL INTERVIEW you:

1) Show up and seize the moment. (It's good to have that recording equipment close.)

2) Let the other person pick the topic or gently guide them to what you want to know.

3) Lends itself more than a formal interview to including more than one person.

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All Rights including Internet and International Rights

THANKSGIVING : TIME TO RECORD FAMILY MEMORIES

THANKSGIVING : TIME TO RECORD FAMILY MEMORIES

There is never a better time than NOW.  

If you can, record the interview.  

If interview is too intimidating a word, have instead a lovely chat.

Tell me about your childhood...

What is your earliest memory?

When did you start school?

Where did you go to school?

What  where your favorite subject(s)? Least favorite?

Teachers?

Did you like school?  

What games did you play?

When you were five, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Do you have any hobbies or interests that began in your childhood?

Tell me about your parents...

DEFENDING GENEALOGY

There are many reason's why people do genealogy research, for themselves and for others.  Like many people who are self taught professionals, personal research was the start for me, back in the day before Internet and databases, and I still use the old resources.  Came the day when I was up against a "brick wall," on my personal research.  I had to wait a while for the information I needed to reach me.  And while I was waiting I started working on a friend's genealogy because I just needed to keep learning.

Not all projects I do turn into books.  Sometimes I work only on a specific question.

Recently I found myself having to defend my love of genealogy and the time I put into it (which is not excessive.)  Oh, I knew this person was ignorant but I also sensed she was  afraid.  I was put down.  Things said to me included, "I think anyone who has to go to the library three days in a row is weird."  "Who cares about the past? I live in the present."  and "You know how you write letters? Well, write nothing about us."

I'll start with that last one.

My experience as a professional and with other professionals is that they respect privacy more than your average person.  They sometimes sign confidentiality agreements (usually when working for someone famous).  There is a lot of information out there for free or for cheap these days and an average person can find out a whole lot about someone else without their permission.  There are criminals who use that information.  Let's just say that I am as careful as I can be to keep a project within the confines of the family I'm working for and with.  However, I've had the experience of the family then doing what they want with that information, usually making copies for their relatives.  I do have to write letters to a client's relations at times.  They know it's a professional asking for information and they know who has hired me and so on, so it up to them to not respond.  (That has happened, even when it was important, and I don't pester.)

As for "living in the past," I think it is quite possible to be curious about ancestors and how they lived and to do some research around their times and place, society and culture, without actually living in their past.  Since we do not yet have a time machine to transport those now living into the past, of course it is impossible.  Then there are people who are such aficionados of an era that they do everything possible to live in it to escape the present as much as possible.  There are fans of the 1930's and fans of the 1950's who own cars, decorate houses, and wear the clothes of their era. They might shun the Internet and cell phones!  I love DNA science and anthropology and archaeology and, as my readers know, I'm also fascinated with past life regression and that the soul chooses to incarnate repeatedly.

As for myself, those who know me know I am also very interested and concerned about the future, in particular the ecosphere of our planet, beginning with my own neighborhood.

As for weird, you might find this weird but I could easily research far more than three days a week, and sometimes I have.  On one project I did three twelve hour days because there was a legal deadline involved.  I am never bored by this research.  I am enlivened by it.  Often there is something of helping people involved in it.

So let me get to the FEAR, since this person is a relative by marriage.

I have been pondering why a particular person may not want to know of ancestors or relations who are not in their immediate presence or memory. Perhaps in some way such a person is overwhelmed with the ones she knows and can't imagine having to include even more people into her worries or around the holiday table.  Because of her attitude I am no longer showing her any of the documents I found.  I know at least one of her grandchildren are interested and the day will come when it is proper to present this grandchild with her genealogy.  I personally have thought of some of my ancestors as incredibly strong people because I learned about the things they had lived through and because I discovered the role of religion and faith in their fortitude!   ... Just about every family has some secret or scandal or someone they don't like for whatever reason...

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WHO SHOULD SHE SHARE HER GENEALOGY RESEARCH WITH? : QUESTIONS FROM READERS of ANCESTRY WORSHIP - GENEALOGY

Hi there AWG!

Because of all the information available on the Internet I've easily found the addresses of a number of relatives who I've had no contact with in 20 or more years and all around the country too. I've done the genealogy and haven't shared it. I thought I'd publish a little book someday and send it out. Now I'm thinking that I should try and contact some of these people and establish connection again. The problem is that I stopped connecting with most of them years ago because of a family scandal which effected me badly.  t seemed to me no one wanted to take sides or get involved or that I didn't want to put them in the position of having to. The perpetrator is still alive. I have no idea what her relationship is with others in the family. 

Sharon

Answer:

Hi Sharon,

Without giving me all the details I can say I know what you mean.  I've heard of situations like this many times.  Every family has secrets and maybe some of them should stay secrets.  Genealogy books can be "just the facts" or a bit more elaborate with memoir-like details and you might feel like letting it "all hang out" is honest (and accurate).  However, I'm going to try and be pragmatic here.

You can have the book published and send out copies to everyone, some may be interested, some not, and some relationships may be reestablished.  When they gossip they can say you were fair and sending EVERYONE a copy.

OR

You can contact everyone and say there is a book available and you'll be glad to send it, but request that they send a donation for the shipping, something like that, which might prove to you who is or isn't interested in the genealogy, appreciative of all your work, or who does not want to start contact with you for whatever reason.

OR

You could contact the people you feel more sure about and tell them you are working on a genealogy and family memoir book and ask for their memories, photos, and so on, including them in on the finished product, and a few of them will show interest and most won't, even if they say they will.

OR

You could publish limited editions of your book and put it on the shelves of libraries all over the country.  Most libraries are interested.  My city library keeps thousands, not in the stacks, but in back, to be used within the library by special request.  (You could then send notes stating that your published genealogy and family history rests in their local library.)  I intend to do this someday, and right now it will probably be in only four cities, but if I find clusters of relatives elsewhere, maybe more.

As for getting into what happened years ago and how it effected you, I understand that you equate the facts found in genealogy research through documents with truth and honesty, but I just don't know.

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HOLIDAY IS DOWN TIME FOR GENEALOGY RESEARCH UP TIME FOR INTERVIEWING RELATIVES : HAVE THE CHILDREN DO THE INTERVIEWS

Every year about this time I find that most family history projects are set aside for the holidays, which bring their own challenges and keep everyone too busy.  Holiday get-togethers can be a good time to talk about family history though and here's an idea: if you're too busy with getting the table cleared and the left overs put away, why not assign one of the children to interview one of the seniors and record the interview?  It can be wonderful to replay the interview years later and hear those child voices and the voices of the elderly.

This morning I "heard" in my mind a favorite song of my one of my relatives and it made me wonder if they were trying to contact me, trying to encourage me, trying to remind me to be THANKFUL.

I am!  Sometimes for the smallest things, but a beautiful day is enough!  A walk down the leaf-strewn street with my dog is a great pleasure!

Happy Holidays!

INTERVIEWING RELATIVES ! FORMAL AND INFORMAL INTERVIEWING

Soon Thanksgiving will be here, and then the Holidays.  Of course, your best time to interview relatives may be when you go on a visit to them and life isn't overly busy.  Still, I find that visiting people during the holidays is a good time to talk about Old Days.

INTERVIEWING RELATIVES !  FORMAL AND INFORMAL INTERVIEWING

Some people respond to formal interviews better than others.

To do a FORMAL INTERVIEW you:

1) Contact the person and tell them that you want to interview them about the family history or focus on a specific aspect of family history.  Although this can be on the phone, in person is best.  Other people in this person's life need to give you both time and space and not interrupt.

2) Set up a time to focus on just that in advance that's good for both people, and be there.

3) Be prepared with a list of questions (at least to get you started) and a recording device.
(Whatever works for you.  Some people are still using cassette machines.  Some people are settling up more than one machine at a time "just in case" one of them fails."  Recording is sometimes a more natural process as taking notes can also be distracting or stop the process.  You want to make eye contact, be comfortable, and listen too!)

The recording device sometimes intimidates people.  It may make the interview feel too important or heavy. You should tell them you intend to use one before hand, but it may help to put it out of the sight line.  Test your recorder to be sure it will pick up a voice from a few feet away.  Preserving the voice of a relative as they tell their story or give information can be very valuable, if you can keep doing technology updates with original recordings.  Our voices tell so much about us!

4) Set up water or tea or other beverages before you begin.  Avoid breaking the interview with eating food or other activities.  Get into the flow.

5) If, however, it's going to be a long interview or a series of interviews, try to do the interview first before taking a meal or long break or wait until after the meal.  You and your interviewee will probably respond best to knowing how it's going to go.

To do an INFORMAL INTERVIEW you:

1) Show up and seize the moment.  (It's good to have that recording equipment close.)

2) Let the other person pick the topic or gently guide them to what you want to know.

3) Lends itself more than a formal interview to including more than one person.

C 2014 - 2024 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy BlogSpot  

All Rights including Internet and International Rights

J.F.K. 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATION

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was fifty years ago today. 

Recently I read a couple new books about his presidency as well as his relationship with his wife, Jackie, that focused on his last year or so of life.  I also rewatched the Oliver Stone film that came out a few years ago that starred Kevin Costner and suggested CIA involvement - a coup.  There have been so many conspiracy theories and notions about who was behind this assassination; the Mafia, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Texas Oilmen, Fidel Castro - and Cuba, the Soviet Union - Russians, Democrat Haters, and maybe you could name a few others.  Maybe we will never know.

ONE THING FOR SURE IS THAT SOME AMERICANS THOUGHT KENNEDY'S IDEAS AND VALUES WERE RADICAL.  Fifty years later things have changed greatly such as that we went from a country in which racism was a fact to a time when not being politically correct can get a celebrity in trouble, if not sued.  The other morning I was listening to a morning radio show and the host was interviewing a Black man on why he gets to call other Blacks Nigger.  The host pointed out that Jewish people do not go around calling each other Kike.

Besides the 50th anniversary being a publishing event, I sometimes think that the Kennedy Presidency is felt by those who remember those days, to be the best of America. Some feel that the assassination itself ended America's innocence. (Others feel that Watergate ended it.)  I think it had it's good points (much more privacy as the best example) and it's bad.

What is meant by America's innocence?

ANSWER THAT FOR YOURSELF and ask your family members who were alive then.  Interview them and record their memories of JFK and this black day in American History.

ANDY KUBRIN TELLS ABOUT INTERVIEWING RELATIVES

I think Interviewing is one of the Research Skills we should become good at, because it brings the human being and thus story into family history research. So I'm linking to Andy Kubrin's blog. I never met Andy but I met his mom at Skirball, where I went to see and participate in the WOMEN HOLD UP HALF THE SKY EXHIBIT. It was a moving exhibit and afterwards I met this very intelligent woman, a great conversationalist, and we quickly got to genealogy research and history. She told me about her son; Andy is writing family memoirs as well as doing genealogy in Canada and he blogs.

Today I know research methods that would have gotten me to the information I needed. But years ago when I didn't know so much, it was the testimonials of a couple relatives that gave me the spark and encouragement and lead me to my research breaks. Today I also know that some of what these people remembered was incorrect, but then again some of it was to be proven. The way I write the story today is to first tell what I was told and then what I found out.