| When interviewing a relative to gather genealogy | | | | answered with a simple yes or no or a short one |
| information on your ancestry there are several | | | | word response. |
| important considerations to keep in mind: | | | | Do not overstay your welcome by taking up |
| Do start close to home. Interviewing your own | | | | more of their time than you ask for up front - |
| parents can be one of the most enlightening and | | | | unless they offer to extend the visit. A 1 or 2 |
| enjoyable experiences you will have. If your | | | | hour initial visit is plenty. |
| relationship with your parents is not as close as | | | | Do not bring your cell phone or other things that |
| you would like, that is all the more reason to | | | | are likely to distract you from your mission. |
| reach out. Almost everyone loves to talk about | | | | Do not act bored, even if the information is not |
| themselves and their history and is flattered when | | | | of personal interest to you. |
| someone takes a genuine interest. Consider it a | | | | Do not be afraid to politely move the |
| great new bonding opportunity. | | | | conversation to a new topic if the interviewee |
| Do get important dates and places and other | | | | gets stalled on an irrelevant topic for too long. But |
| specific information on marriages, births, deaths of | | | | be careful not to interrupt in the middle of a |
| parents and siblings. | | | | thought. |
| Do ask them to relate stories about their past | | | | Do not be pushy about getting sensitive |
| that will bring insight and understanding to who | | | | information. Be aware that your interviewee may |
| they are and the events that shaped their lives | | | | simply not be comfortable discussing certain |
| and attitudes and contributed to making them the | | | | things. |
| person they are today. | | | | Do not dominate the conversation - let the |
| Do come prepared with a set of specific | | | | interviewee do most of the talking. |
| questions so that you can control the flow of the | | | | Do not forget to thank the person at the |
| conversation and keep it moving. | | | | conclusion of the interview for their time and |
| Do come prepared to either take notes or record | | | | information. |
| or video tape the conversation. | | | | Do not procrastinate - particularly when it comes |
| Do try to ensure that everyone is comfortable | | | | to interviewing older relatives. It is sad when you |
| and that you are in a relatively quiet place so that | | | | intend to get around to an interview but don't find |
| they are not bothered by household distractions. | | | | the time until it is too late. |
| Do ask if you can make copies of important | | | | Once you have completed your interview it is |
| genealogy documents, letters or photos. | | | | wise to go back and work up a transcript of the |
| Do ask open ended questions that will elicit | | | | conversation. It is both courteous and appropriate |
| information rich responses to your questions. An | | | | to offer to share a copy with the interviewee |
| open ended question is one that cannot be | | | | once you have completed the transcript. |