| Ever wondered: What are the best questions to ask | | | | brothers and sisters marry and when and where did |
| relatives to help me find my ancestors? When | | | | that happen? What memories do you have about |
| gathering family information and talking with folks, be | | | | each of your siblings? |
| thoughtful, kind and considerate. This will increase | | | | What are the legal names, birthdays and locations for |
| other people's willingness to help you, make you a | | | | each of your own children? Whom did your children |
| more likeable and trustworthy person and greatly | | | | marry? Whom did you marry and what is their birth |
| improve both the quality and quantity of help you | | | | information? |
| get as your discover your family history. Use a tape | | | | Tell me about your mother's parents and ancestors? |
| recorder or video camera for your visit if possible but | | | | What do you know about your father's parents and |
| be sure to get the permission of the person(s) being | | | | ancestors? |
| interviewed, well ahead of time. | | | | What do you know about your aunts, uncles and |
| Tip: When posing questions: if they don't know the | | | | cousins from your mothers family? What about the |
| answer, ask if they would give you their | | | | same info for your father's side of the family? |
| "approximation" or "best guess" for an answer. That | | | | Where did they live? Do you know where they are |
| will usually stimulate their thinking - and help them | | | | buried? |
| remember and at least give you clues. | | | | Please share some of the memories you have about |
| Here is a list of good questions to ask. Change them | | | | your childhood and life with your parents and siblings? |
| according to your situation. What is your full legal | | | | Do you know of any of the family members on your |
| name and your nickname or the name by which you | | | | mother's side of the family that are involved in |
| prefer to be called? What's your birthday and in what | | | | genealogy or building their family tree or saving family |
| City, etc. were you born? | | | | photos and stories? What about on your father's side |
| What's the maiden name of your mother and what | | | | of the family? |
| name did she use? Where was she born and what is | | | | Are there any of the relatives that you know of that |
| her date and place of birth? | | | | served in any of the major wars or that immigrated |
| What is your father's full name, what was his | | | | from other countries? |
| occupation and what name did he go by? Where was | | | | Who do you know in the family that has an old |
| your father born and what is his date and place of | | | | family Bible or old family documents or pictures? Do |
| birth? | | | | you have any old pictures of the family that you'd be |
| What are the names and birth dates and places for | | | | willing to show me? |
| of each of your full siblings? Also check to see if | | | | What are some of the best memories and lessons |
| there were half-siblings or step-siblings and try and | | | | you've learned in your life? |
| get the same info for them. Who did each of your | | | | |