I have regularly interviewed one person at a time, even if a spouse exists.... It keeps the train of thought within one family ...... A second interview can be for the other spouse and the third can be with the both together. This combined interview can include stories about their married lives, about their children, about themselves... and the tape will show how they interact with each other. This is what you want, not just the dates... Dates you will be able to get.... Although you are interviewing ONE person, you could have a helper who knows the family along with YOU and who can also ask questions.... Just be sure that neither of you editorialize on the tape... The interviewer(s) should be interviewers not interviewees! So watch what you are saying if it is not a QUESTION.... I would forego the tape recorder, now that video cameras are available and video tape is cheap.. You can get tape 8 hours 160 from target at about $2.00 a tape when you buy 8 of them at a time and these convert to 2.5 hours at SP speed. You might have a problem buying a direct VHS camera now because the media has changed, but just buy more of the ''tapes'' that you need for your machine and you're a GO. Note.. 2.5 hours is more than enough time for one person to sit and talk. (But still be prepared with more than one tape, all unwrapped, ready to go into the machine). If you don't have a video camera, borrow one or rent one. Check at your local library or high school or village offices to see if you could borrow one. If you need more, then set up a second interview. Be sure to go over some of the same questions again from the first tape and then go on with new ones. Be sure, as you are have the info fresh in your mind to jot down some of the primary questions you want to get answered on the second trip.. Cover the blinking light with electricians tape - without fail.... This blinking light drives even the best interviewee batty seeing it blink.... Whether you actually have the person's face on the tape is not really important. Their words can be on video tape. I would suggest though that you do include their personages on the tape for their mannerisms and the way some people talk with their hands is quite important. If at all possible....for those that are adamant that they not be on the video, ask if you can have the video set back a distance...(be sure to have a remote microphone to get the voices!) or as if you can take a picture of them at the beginning..... (or get on as you are setting up at the beginning) and if they insist on not being in the video then put something in front of the camera lens. You will want access to the lens for the individual photos so do not make it hard for yourself. The trick is to not even bring the subject up, just set up and begin talking. I cannot say enough times....TURN ON THE VIDEO camera as soon as you walk into the room or as soon as they walk into the room.. The set up and getting ready is part of the whole aura. Keep the camera backed up enough to cover more than just the persons face, perhaps their hands and what might be on the table. Try to tape at their kitchen table or favorite chair, so find that comfortable place.. Consider the lighting...natural light from the outside should be on their face not to their back. Regarding photos props~ Make sure that the photo that they are speaking about is briefly in the frame.. Go back afterward and do close ups after you are done talking. Do not stop the thought process.. At home, you can then go back to the photo and listen to the info to 'label' the photo. Ask, AS YOU ALL GET COMFORTABLE with the interview process, and perhaps while the camera is running, for "for the next trip", they could look for and get their photos out and their certificates, and all the stuff they have in their shoebox of old family stuff.... personal telephone books and those of their parents....along with their holy cards, funeral cards and news clips and obits out for you so that you can copy them for your project... "maybe they can get them for the next trip"...... THE ABSOLUTE BEST QUESTION for man or woman is (and be ready with your second question etc because the show is about to happen.....) is "WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST KISS?" It has never ever failed me. This second interview is always the hardest because they are WORKING at remembering...so keep it shorter and set up a third visit..... When you are done with the project, be sure to make a copy for the person you interviewed. If you are giving a copy to a library or historical society, be sure you have approval for this...WRITTEN approval. The organization that will receive it will have a release you can use. REMEMBER to take that tab out of your original one AS SOON AS YOU TAKE IT FROM THE CAMERA and take out the tabs for each of the copies too! Have fun..... and so, "WHEN DID YOU GET your FIRST KISS?" H. Place ALL the information on some archival media form that you like. Print a copy to use as a master to duplicate for others in your family. I. Send a nice copy/download of your own completed version to your family historian for the family collective.