Interviewing Elders

The most valuable family archive is not in any office or library — it lives in the memory of your grandparents and elderly relatives. Once they are gone, their stories go with them. A simple recorded conversation can preserve decades of living history.

Before You Begin

• Choose a quiet, comfortable time — after a meal often works well.

• Record audio or video on your phone, with their permission.

• Bring old photographs — they unlock memories like nothing else.

Ten Questions to Ask

• 1. What is your earliest childhood memory?

• 2. What was the house you grew up in like?

• 3. What do you remember about your own parents and grandparents?

• 4. How did our family come to live in this village or town?

• 5. What was school like when you were young?

• 6. How did you meet your husband or wife?

• 7. What festivals and traditions did your family celebrate?

• 8. What was the hardest time our family went through?

• 9. Is there a family recipe, song, or story you want us to keep?

• 10. What advice would you give to your great-grandchildren?

Don't rush. Let silence do its work — the best stories often come after a long pause. And when you're done, add the recording and its story to your family tree, so your grandchildren can hear their great-grandmother's voice.