Gold Challenge
Oral history


Challenge: Put together a series of questions and interview either an older member of your family or a subject of your choice.

How do I do this: Decide on a person to interview. Develop a series of questions to ask your interviewee. You will need some sort of recording equipment.  Can you do this on your smart phone, ipad, or other electronic device?

Things to consider: Select a topic for discussion with your subject with a set list of questions to ask. Questions may be about their life as a child, military service or perhaps life living in a particular area. Think about what would you like to find out about that person. What would be important for people to hear about in years to come? Does your subject have an interesting story to tell?

It is important to start each interview with the same five questions as this will set your subject at ease:

  • Name?
  • Where were your born?
  • When were you born?
  • What did your parents do for a living?
  • Where did you go to school?

In your main interview you may wish to extend these questions for example:

  • When and where were you married?
  • Can you tell me more about your family for example: your brother & sisters, parents, your grandparents?
  • Who was your best friend?

Suggested places to find this information: Speak to the individual directly.

Suggested resources and useful websites:
“Ask your Gran” questions that may be useful Click here
Tips & Suggestions when making a recording Click here
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm
http://www.valdostamemorials.com/family_history_questionnaire.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Write-Your-Family-History---50-Questions-You-Must-Ask-Parents-Or-Grandparents-Before-They-Die&id=800937