As a means of
researching family trees,interviewing relatives can be a really
enjoyable experience for both parties, BUT there are some rules that
need to be obeyed. As in anything worthwhile, genealogy does have some
guidelines that must be followed if you are at all serious about
family history.
5 Simple Rules
Contact them first - DON'T just turn up on their
doorstep, cassette recorder in hand. Get their permission to do the
interview and be honest about why you would like to speak to them.
If using a recording device (recommended) get their
permission to use it FIRST. People can very quickly lose their power of
speech and/or recall when you place a recording device in front of
them. The interview can take on a whole new dimension for the
interviewer - suddenly you're an interrogator! So make sure they are
comfortable with whatever recording means you have available, be it a
tape recorder (remember those?), cassette recorder or one of those tiny
devices that fit into the palm of your hand - recommended, as they are
less intrusive.
Be careful not to offend them by asking questions that
maybe too personal or of a very sensitive nature. Some people will
answer any question you throw at them whereas others will be more
guarded. Obviously if you already have a close relationship with Uncle
George, he will be quite relaxed in talking to you. Aunty Madge
however, who you wouldn't know if you fell over her, is not as likely
to be so forthcoming in laying out the laundry, clean or otherwise, of
the family trees!
It's important to have a list of questions ready. You
may not ask them all or you may need to alter the focus of some during
the interview, but you should have a list of core questions ready. Why?
Because this will ensure that you don't forget anything important and
secondly it gives the impression that you actually know what you are
doing. Dithering and looking up at the ceiling every 5 minutes trying
to remember what to ask next does not inspire confidence and will
likely make the interviewee uncomfortable.
Take any relevant old photos as they may jog a memory
or two.
DON'T outstay your welcome. You are the only one that
can judge when that might be.
Show your appreciation for their time by either
presenting them with a small gift or simply saying those magic words
"Thank You".
Verify
Or Else
Family interviews are a fantastic way to fill in the gaps in your
family trees, and will provide far more information than you could ever
glean from a marriage certificate. The quality and detail can be
extraordinary and enlightening, BUT don't accept everything Uncle
George says as being entirely accurate. His "true story" may not be
true at all.
THE FIRST RULE
IN GENEALOGY IS VERIFY (Click here
for more info) - wherever possible. The truth can be stretched,
twisted, bent and made to disappear altogether. That doesn't mean Uncle
George is lying, he may just be repeating what he was told by someone
else or he may have forgotten the details over time.
My Story
Here is an example of just such a point from my own family history. It
is very illustrative of the need, when researching family trees, of accurate information.
My
great-grandfather George BURLS came out from England and settled in
rural Victoria, Australia. My grandmother, his youngest daughter,
always said that he was a detective and that he solved a murder
investigation in a nearby town. Well, that was all I had to go on.
Firstly if THERE was a murder the local newspaper was the place to
start. I knew I would have to go back to the early 1900's because my
great-grandfather died in 1919 aged 70.
Back at about
that time a water resevoir called the Waranga Basin was being excavated
and so there was a great influx of workers around the area. Two of the
workers living in the tent city that sprung up were James Edwards and
William Skinner. They were friends but Skinner got drunk one night and
attacked Edwards with a shovel. He defended himself with a nearby axe
and killed Skinner. Fearing the police would not believe it was
self-defence, Edwards proceeded to cut up the body, placed the parts in
hessian bags and threw them into the basin. The parts were later found
and an investigation ensued. All these details I got from The Rushworth
Chronicle of 1905.
George BURLS and
his son Alfred were rabbit trapping, which was their occupation, when
they were approached by the culprit, Edwards, who they both knew from
another job site where had previously worked together. Edwards denied
ever knowing them and said he wanted to buy some tobacco.He did so then
left. They were both called to give evidence at the subsequent trial.
End of story!
The above are
the facts of the case. My grandmothers version was somewhat more
elaborate, granting my great-grandfather, who by the way only had one
eye, with the tracking down and apprehension of Edwards. But again, she
may have just been repeating what she had been told.
Helpful
Interview Questions For Talkng Family Trees
Okay, so here are some sample questions to get your family trees
talking. These are in addition to the mandatory ones such as names,
dates of birth, marriage death etc.
Describe your childhood - relationship with
parents, siblings.
The greatest joy of your childhood was .......?
As a child, what was your worst fear?
What was your father's occupation and how did this
affect the quality of your life as a child?
How would you describe your parents and /or
grandparents physical characteristics and qualities?
What is the most pleasant memory you have of your
parents and / or grandparents?
What was the dumbest thing you ever did as a child?
What was your most memorable holiday?
What was one thing that attracted you to your
spouse? Why?
What was the most difficult moment for you as a
parent?
What one thing would you change in your role as a
parent?
What would you like your children to most remember
about you?
What was your greatest fear as a parent?
What activities do you enjoy?
What do you find really annoying in other peoples
actions or characteristics?
Play with the
questions, but don't pry if a particular enquiry makes your interviewee
uncomfortable. Move on. Family trees can occasionally produce
unpalatable fruit so don't take on the role of an interrogator in these
circumstances. Interviews should be a positive experience for both
parties.
Fruit trees require careful attention to maintain an abundant supply of
fruit. Family trees need to be fed and watered along with the digging
to maintain good health. Try to stay on good terms with your relatives
and keep the lines of communication open.
