Posted on May 31st, 2008 by Carol
Get comfortable
If you have made arrangements ahead of time to interview a particular person, try to do it in a quiet setting where there will be little or no interruptions. If you will be tape recording your subject, make sure ahead of time that your recorder is in prime working order (batteries, settings, etc.) and set it close enough to pick up all the dialog, especially if you have a quiet speaking interviewee. Talk about general topics if you will be taking notes, to get them comfortable with the interview setting. Speak slowly and clearly. Tell your subject that you will give them a break when they need one.
Begin with the basics
Depending on what you might already know about your subject’s name and birth dates, you can skip that information and focus on other questions that might give you more background information.
Some questions to ask:
- Where were you born? (City, state, country)
- Were you born at home, or in a hospital or nursing home?
- Do you know what time of day you were born?
- Was there a world event that took place the same day? (End of a war, weather event, etc.)
- Were there other siblings? (This could lead to a long answer, so maybe save it to ask in a separate session.)
- Where do you fall in birth order?
- Did your parents both work? What were their professions?
- What do you know about your mother's/father's ancestors? (City, state, country)
- Are there any celebrities in your family tree?
- Why did they come to the United States from that country?
- Did they bring any family traditions with them?
- What important lessons did you learn from your (Mother, father, grandparents, etc.)
- Who were the best story tellers in your family?
- What will you always remember about them?
- Were you taught any special skills? (Cooking, carpentry, sewing, fishing, hunting, etc.)
- What were the things you did as a child, teen, and adult that have given you the most pleasure?
- Were you ever in any accidents?
- What were the newest discoveries during the time you were growing up?
- How has the world changed since you were a child?
- In what way was the world better then?
- What was your favorite subject in school?
- What did you like to do after school?
- Did you ride a bike to school, a bus, or walk? Or, were you taken to school by car?
- Did you get good grades?
- What was the extent of your formal education?
- Is there anything that you would like to tell me about that you feel I should know?
Don't expect to get all of your questions answered in one sitting. Take this list with you and highlight the most important things you want to know. If your subject is willing to answer more questions, then go back and ask your secondary questions.
Depending on your relationship with the subject, keep in mind that your questions could bring up sad or angry memories. If they do, either move on,change the subject or end the interview. This should be a fun exercise, not something unpleasant. Happy interviewing! :)
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Technorati Tags: family history, family tree, Genealogy, interview, iPentimento, memories, nostalgia,…
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Filed under: Genealogy
Posted on May 28th, 2008 by Carol
I suppose you're thinking that this is going to be about some dastardly deed done by someone in the Carstairs family. Wrong!
No, instead, this is the story of the David C. and Isabella (Small) Carstairs family, who are originally of Scotland, and are my sister-in-law Kathy's Great-great Grandparents.
Actually, this is about
where this branch of the Carstairs family settled here in Washington state near Matlock in Mason County. I have not pinpointed the time by finding them in the census, but I do know that they were residents of Washington according to the Territorial Censuses of 1887 and 1892.
As it turns out,
the land where they farmed and raised sheep had some very distinctive soil, probably left over from when the last glacier pulled out and headed north.
Carstairs Soil
My point is, when you are looking for family information, you never know what kind of dirt you will find. Real, or the gossipy kind. In any case, keep your mind open when you are doing Google searches or the kind, because that is how I found out about the soil being named for the Carstairs family and the land where it is found.
carstairs-descendants-by-carol-wilkerson
The above is a Genealogy Report format of 3 generations of this family. Please contact me for any additions, connections or corrections. webduckie AT yahoo DOT com
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Technorati Tags: Carstairs, Genealogy, Mason County, Meigle, Scotland, soil, Washington
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Filed under: Environment, Family, Genealogy, History
Posted on May 26th, 2008 by Carol
We remember those who have served their country in times of war and peace.
Top Left Clockwise: Gregory E. Wilkerson, US Marine Corps - First Iraq War era; William Gale Yates, US Navy - WWII; David N. Yates, US Army National Guard - Vietnam era; Joyce L. Moline Huntley, US Army Nurse - WWII; James K. P. Yates, CSA - Civil War (Tennessee) Center: John Breedlove - US Army - Civil War (Missouri).
Top Left, Clockwise: Richard R. Bean, US Army - Civil War (Iowa); John Whit(t)more, US Army, Medal of Honor Recipient - Civil War (Illinois); Louis Sechrest, US Army National Guard - Iraq War (currently serving, Iowa); Gregory Wilkerson (see above); James A. Wilkerson, US Air Force - Vietnam era (IA); Loren E. Wilkerson, US Navy - WWII (IA).
We remember those who have been our family and friends and are no longer with us. (Sadly, too many to cite).
We honor them with this day of remembrance.
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Technorati Tags: Bean, Breedlove, Cold War, Iraq War, Memorial Day 2008, patriots, roll of honor, Sechrest, Veterans, Vietnam, Wilkerson, WWII, Yates
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Filed under: Family, Genealogy, History, Holidays
