LDS Genealogy

The fastest way to add names to a new genealogy is to interview living relatives. You’ll need to verify their memories, but you’ll quickly gather a list of names and stories you won’t find in the statistics easily.

Choose a time when no one is rushed. If possible, record the conversation, but also take notes. The recordings will be a treasure someday, but they also let you verify your notes and check for things you missed.

Begin by asking for basics on the person you’re talking with–full name, nicknames, birthdate and so on. Ask easy and fun questions to help your subject relax. Following are some sample questions:

Did you like school? What were your favorite subjects?

Were your parents strict?

Do you remember who your best friend was when you were little?

Were you a naughty child?

After you’ve gathered some fun stories, work your way backwards. Ask a few questions about his parents–names, birthdates, and birthplaces. If he doesn’t remember, see if you can get some clues from other questions: Were your parents young when they had you? Did they always live in Ohio?

Next, ask about aunts and uncles. This will get you the siblings you’ll need for the family group sheet. Ask them to share memories of their experiences with those relatives, or any family legends your interviewer might recall. Some of those legends might never have happened, but they’re fun to include anyway in the legends section of your history.

You should plan to conduct the interviews in brief segments if your subject seems tired or bored. Try doing them with different people around each time. The other people in the room may have memories of their own or questions to include. Changing the dynamics of the discussion often changes the results.

Plan to chat about family during holidays and large gatherings. These are times that naturally spark memories and are more likely to result in new information.

After you’ve transcribed the information, you can begin to verify it through official sources. Interviews are a starting point, but memories can be faulty and should always be double-checked.