Did You Ask That??



Yes, you have interviewed family members, asked the questions about their birth, marriage, schooling, military service, hometown, but there may be a few special questions you didn’t think to ask, especially those that only that relative could answer.

Here is a sampling of many lesser asked questions but ones that can have some interesting answers.

Ask about:

Were their given names from another relative, were they named for someone else, maybe even a non-relative?

As a child, any nicknames and who gave you the nickname?

Everyone had chores to do around the house, what were yours and were there any you especially disliked?

Which subject in school was your easiest and your favorite?

What childhood illnesses did you have and how did it affect you?

Any training or internship program did you accomplish before going to a full-time job?

Did you ever get called to serve on a jury? What happened?

How long did you know your future spouse before you got married?

Did you have a honeymoon if so, where?

Of all your children, which one always did the most amazing or unusual things and what were they?

In raising your children, what was the most difficult thing to do?

Did you know your own grandparents, if so describe what you remember.

Were you or your spouse ever in a serious accident?

What surgeries have you had over the years?

When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Nov. 1963, what were the time and place when you heard the news?

Who was your closest friend during childhood? What happened to them?

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

Have you ever met any famous people or celebrities, provide details?

As an adult what civic groups or organizations were you a member of and when?

What is your favorite holiday and why?

IF you can get even half of these questions answered by those you interview, you will have a real treasure!

Photos: Record the interview; listen and take notes; and talk to your relative.

Related FamilyTree.com Blogs:

Genealogical Questions

Two People Interview

Interview People

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