TIP #310 - WHAT QUESTIONS CAN YOU ASK? Based on the response to last week's tip on "What's Important" in your family research, I have prepared a list of potential questions that you may ask your relatives that will add the meat and potatoes to our family history. These are merely suggestions - you may amplify them, eliminate some ... this is just a worksheet of my ideas. ANCESTORS: There are many family members who are already shadows on the pages of time. BUT - we can flesh them out a little possibly by asking older family members or doing some searching on your own. Facts might include: 1. From where did our family come? 2. How did they earn a living in the old world? 3. Why did they come to America? 4. About when did they come to America? 5. How old were they when they came to America? 6. How did they travel to America? 7. Did they leave family behind? 8. Where did they settle? Instead of just entering the dates you have; if you know from whence they came; do a little research on the county they left behind - geographically, politically. If they came by boat, try to find out a little about lives of the passengers on the boat - what was involved. Make this section more a narrative rather than just the cold hard facts. There are many web sites I'm sure that you can search to learn about their background in other countries. OUR GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS: If they are living, ask them questions similar to this, or if they have deceased, ask other contemporary family members. 1. What memorable events happened during your lifetime? 2. Who were some people who influenced your life? 3. What inventions or discoveries occurred in your lifetime? 4. Why was life harder then? 5. How was the world better? 6. Did you have a nickname? 7. Where were you born, tell me about the town or house. 8. Where did you grow up? 9. What is your faith? 10. What kind of work did you do? 11. What was your favorite thing to do? 12. When were you married - tell me about the ceremony, witnesses, minister, what you wore, were there any goof-ups? Do you remember the songs that were played? Did you elope? 13. How many children did you have? (You might think you know, but was there a child who died in infancy? Foster children? Children raised for other family members? 14. What hardships did you face? 15. What were your favorite things you did together? 16. What places did you travel to? 17. What are some of your favorite memories? 18. What school did you go to? Did you graduate? Who were your favorite classmates? How were your grades? What were your favorite subjects? Did you participate in other school activities? 19. About your job. How were you trained? How long was your normal work day? What exactly did you do? Did you enjoy your work? Did you get any promotions? Did you ever get hurt on the job? 20. Military. Did you serve in the military? If not, why? What was your rank, where did you train? Did You see active duty? Where? Were you injured? Did you receive any medals? Who were some of your buddies? Tell me about your homecoming. 21. Music, Movies and other entertainment. What kind of music do you like? Who was your favorite performer? What was your favorite movie and movie stars? Did you ever meet any stars? YOUR LIVES: 1. What is the best advice your mother/father ever gave you? 2. Places we have lived - describe the area, house and life style. 3. Our favorite meals 4. Hobbies and games we enjoy. 5. Special places we like to go as a family. 6. Friends and relatives we like to see often. 7. People we turn to for advice. 8. Family traditions. 9. Holidays we celebrate and their traditions 10. Meals we like for the holidays. 11. Where we worship 12. How our faith influences our lives. 13. Our favorite recipies. GENERAL: Maybe you might think that some of these questions are trivial and prying. But believe me, when you get people talking about their lives, it will all "roll out." People love to talk about themselves if someone cares!! Remember how many times you've heard some story from Grandpa until you almost shut off your mind while they repeat it for the 100th time? Older people (and a lot of us "younger" ones too!) love to share with an interesting audience. Remember! Always show interest, write down your notes as they talk or tape - but keep good eye contact with the speaker. Some of these questions will generate more information and history that you hadn't even thought to ask. Many of these questions are interchangeable also - what shows for the grandparents can be used for parents and vice versa. THEN - DOWN TO YOU!!! It's up to you too to keep track of your life for your family! Don't just dwell in the past all the time; remember, some day you will be in a family history. Remember to put down in writing or tape, your memories, your dreams, your interests. Are you good at needlework? Did you ever play shortstop? Did you ever really "blow it"? One of the favorite stories of my life that my daughters enjoy is my meeting Chancellor Willie Brandt of West Germany back in 1958-59. I made a tremendous impression as he was entering the office building where I worked, surrounded by security guards and the State Police. And Sandi the Coordinated lost her balance on the recently waxed foyer and slid entirely across the room, right into the Chancellor, spiking him with her 3 inch heels! And all the officers pulling their pistols? Ah yes ... memories as silly as these bring a smile to the faces of your family! You might print these questions out and alter the wording, add some ideas of your own. You know your family better than I. Search the web to find time lines (some of which I've shared before). If the television was invented during your grandparent's life, add this in a comment section. Wars, deaths of famous people - there are many interesting tidbits of history that can be merged into your records. Have fun! (c) Copyright 28 Sept 2000, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved, sgorin@glasgow-ky.com Col. Sandi Gorin, 205 Clements, Glasgow, KY 42141 (270) 651-9114 Member: Glasgow-Barren Co Chamber of Commerce Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ <>< TIPS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Tips KYBIOS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Bios SCKY ARCHIVES: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl Surname Registry: http://sckyregistry.homestead.com/SCKYHome.html Merged Surname Registry all counties in South Central KY: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/files/surnames/surnames.txt