Here is a fact sheet you might find useful for interviewing elders. Please send me any and all additions you would make. (Thanks to valentine on Gen-Newbie for the "bones" of the survey.) REMINISCE (TALK A BIT ABOUT THESE TWO PEOPLE) Your name/date: ___________________________________ Mr _________________________________________ born:_____________________________ at: __________ in city/prov: ___________________ and his parents were: __________________________________________________ and he married: Miss _____________________________________________ born:_____________________________ at: __________ in city/prov: ___________________ and her parents were: __________________________________________________ Per folklore how did they meet: Did she have siblings? Y N names: Did he have siblings? Y N names: What type of work did SHE do for a living or for pay if any: His/Her livelihood: Position: Company: She died ______________at ______years old in city:________________ of:_______________ and is buried at: ______________________________ HE died ______________at ______years old in city:________________ of:_______________ and is buried at: ______________________________ Could SHE play an instrument? what Could HE play an instrument? what Was he in the service (the armed forces)? Branch, rank, which war HIS hobbies Her Hobbies Did she have collections DId he have collections Did he/she own a car Did he DRIVE a car Did SHE drive a car Did he travel within the country? elsewhere in the world? Did she travel within the country? elsewhere in the world? (If unmarried) DID she a suitor and what is known of him? (If unmarried) Did he have a girlfriend and what is known of her? He smoke? Y N pipe cigar, store cigarettes, rolled cigarettes, chew, snuf.... She smoke? Y N pipe cigar, store cigarettes, rolled cigarettes, chew, snuf.... Did he wear a hat most of the time? Y N a certain style? Did she wear a hat or bonnet most of the time? Y N certain style? Did she can at home? Y N Did she have a big garden to feed the family? Y N Did he/she have a flower garden? Y N what kinds of flowers? Grow farm animals for food Y N have family pets? Y N dog? (breed, colours?)named cat? (breed, colours?) named make two columns for this: HIS HERS Tall (5'7+) or short (5'5-) Tall (5'5"+) or short (5'4"-) Speak a language other than English? Accent/brogue Emigrated to country when? Faith (Baptized?) Highest level of education Where was school? Hair colour Eye colour Glasses/monocle/hearing aid Cane/Wheelchair Light/Heavy/Normal Weight Tattoos What and where? MAN WOMAN Beard long, short, medium Hair long, short? Style? Balding Mustached Physical Losses - like fingers Hobbies: Hobbies: homecrafts like knitting, sewing, crocheting, tatting or atypical Fisherman/hunter/watcher of most women of her time Baseball/football/soccer/bowling Strong/weak person Good humour/practical joker?/NO humor Strict/Lenient Lazy/workacholic/average Drinker - light medium heavy Favourite saying: Major Habit Tell a story or two about HER on another page. Tell a story or two about HIM on another page. Namaste, Laurie in Ontario, Canada IBSSG, RAOGK Volunteer In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. --Martin Luther King Jr.