117 Questions to Ask Your

family

By Sonia Meza
December 23, 2016

What questions should we ask to advance in our research on

past familiar? Are they all likewise Hello?
These doubts are common when scheduling an interview with someone from
the family wey know that we have limited time.
If we are at the point of being a 'lazy genealogist', this is a hobbyist who
search for papers and more papers in files, civil registries, and online... we must
to consider stepping out of our comfort zone. Beware! I said: "Comfort"
which should not be confused with 'Ease'.

I am aware that many times what we lack is a script to follow.

Today we bring 117 questions as a script to ask the relative with whom
You have been contacting for a few months and finally want to meet with you.
(remember the video conference option) and answer your questions. Already
we write on our blog some tips about thebest way to record
a video interview, in case you want to review them.

Here are the 117 questions:

Do you share your name with anyone else in the family?

Did you have any nickname while growing up? If so, what was it and why?
Did they call it that?

3. Have you had any nicknames in your adult life?

4. When and where were you born?
5. What was the religion practiced by your parents and grandparents?
6. Do you follow a religion?
7. Where was your first house?
8. What other houses did you live in?
What are your earliest memories of your home?
10. Can you tell me a story or memory about your brothers and sisters?
11. What are the full names of your brothers and sisters?
12. How did the family have fun when you were a child?
13. Was there any chore you hated doing when you were a child?
14. What types of books do you like to read?
15.Do you remember a favorite lullaby? Which one was it?
16. When times were tough, do you remember having enough food?
17. What were your favorite toys?
18. What were your favorite games?
19. Was there a fashion in clothing that you remember fondly?
20. Which school did you go to and where was it?
21. What did you think about going to school?
22. What was your favorite subject in school and why?
23. Which one was the most difficult?
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
25. What is the best memory you have of your classmates?
26. What were the grades like?
27. Can you describe what you were wearing to school?
28. What sports did you participate in?
29. Was there a gathering place where you liked to spend time?
30.Did you receive any special award for your studies or activities at school?
31. How many years of education have you completed?
32.Describe how you were as a young person
33. Do you have a technical or specialized degree?
34. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
35. What was your first job?
36. How old were you when you retired?
37. How did you decide on your profession?
38. What jobs have you done?
39. If you did military service, what were your duties and when and where did you do it?
Did you do it?
40. How old were you when you started going out at night?
41. Do you remember your first date?
42. When, where, and how did you meet your current partner?
43. How long did they know each other before getting married?
44. How did you propose to each other?
45. Where and when did you get married? (date, place, parish, etc.)
46. Describe the ceremony
47. Who was present? Were there witnesses, godparents, bridesmaids, etc.
Did you have a honeymoon? Where?
49. Have you been married more than once?
50. How would you describe your spouse?
51. What do you admire most about him or her?
52. How long have you been married?
53. When and where did your spouse pass away?
54. What advice would you give to a son or grandson on the day of his wedding?
55. How did you find out you were going to be a father/mother for the first time?
56. How many children do you have in total?
What are their names, date of birth, and place?
58. Why did you give them those names?
59. Do you remember anything about your children when they were little that really touched you?
surprised?
60. What is one of the strangest things your children have done when...
Were they children?

61. What was the funniest thing?

62. If you had to do it again, what would you change about the way you raised
your family?
63. What is the most difficult part of raising children?
64. Do you consider yourself to be very strict or not very strict as a mother/father?
65. What was the most rewarding aspect of parenthood?
66. Did any of your children break something of yours?
67.Did you have to treat any of your children differently? Why?
68. How did you feel when your oldest son started his schooling?
69. What advice would you give your children and grandchildren about how to be a father or mother?
70. Where did your in-laws live?
When and where did your parents die? What do you remember about them?
72. How did they die? Where were they hospitalized?
73. In which cemetery do their remains lie?
74. What do you remember about the death of your in-laws?
75. Do you remember hearing your grandparents talk about their lives? What did they say?
76. Do you remember your great-grandparents?
77. Who was the oldest person you remember from your childhood?
78. Have you had any childhood diseases?
79. Do you have any hereditary health problems?
80. Do you exercise regularly?
81. Do you have or did you have any bad habits?
82. Have you ever been a victim of a crime?
83.Have you ever had a serious accident?
84.Has anyone saved your life?
Have you ever been hospitalized? For what reason?
86. Have you ever had surgery?
87. What do you consider to be the most important inventions?
88.Do you remember the first time you saw a car, a TV, or a refrigerator?
89. How different was the world when you were a child?
90. Do you remember your family talking about world politics?
91. How would you define yourself politically?
92. Did you ever live through a war?
Have you admired any president of the country?
94. How did you experience the days of food shortages?
95.Tell me the name of a good friend who has been there for many years.
96. Has there been anyone in your life that you would consider a soulmate? Who were they?
And why do you feel that special bond?
97. What were the hardest decisions you had to make?
98. Who is the person that changed the course of your life?
99. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
100. What is the hardest experience you have lived?
101. What musical instrument did you learn to play?
102. Do you consider yourself creative?
103. What is the funniest prank you have pulled?
104. What activities have you enjoyed in your adulthood?
105. What are your hobbies?
106. What do you like to do when you're not working?
107. What is the most incredible thing that has happened to you?
108. Have you ever met someone famous?
109. Who were your grandparents?
110. Where were they from?
111. How do you feel about what you chose regarding your profession,
studies and spouse?
112. Which organizations or groups have you belonged to?
113. Have you ever won an award as an adult? Tell me about it.
114. What is the longest trip you have taken? Where was it?
115. What has been your favorite vacation spot?
116. What pets have you had?
117. Is there something you've always wanted to do but haven't done?

Tell us how it has gone with these ideas. Are there any questions that are more
more effective than others?