How to Interview Family Members for Genealogy

The Irreplaceable Value of Family Interviews

Every elderly relative carries irreplaceable knowledge that exists nowhere else. When they pass, that knowledge goes with them unless someone records it first. Interviewing family members is one of the most important things a genealogist can do, and it requires no special equipment, training, or subscriptions.

Planning Your Interview

Identify Your Subjects

Prioritize interviews based on:

1. Age — the oldest relatives carry the most generational knowledge
2. Memory and willingness — some relatives are more engaged storytellers than others
3. Branch of the family — ensure you interview representatives from multiple family lines
4. Geographic spread — relatives in different locations may have different perspectives and knowledge

ActualPeopleSearch can help you locate relatives you have lost contact with, giving you the opportunity to reach out and request an interview.

Prepare Your Questions

Do not arrive unprepared. Draft questions in advance, organized by topic:

Basic biographical questions:

• What is your full name, including middle name?
• When and where were you born?
• What are your parents' full names, including your mother's maiden name?
• Where did you grow up?

Family structure questions:

• How many siblings did you have? What were their names?
• Did your parents have siblings? What do you remember about them?
• Who were your grandparents? Where did they come from?

Life experience questions:

• What was your neighborhood like growing up?
• What did your parents do for work?
• What family traditions did you observe?
• What stories did your parents or grandparents tell about the family?

Specific detail questions:

• Do you know where the family originally came from before coming to America?
• Were there any family members in the military?
• Did anyone in the family change their name?
• Where are family members buried?

Choose the Setting

• A comfortable, quiet location produces the best results
• The relative's own home is ideal because familiar surroundings prompt memories
• Avoid noisy restaurants or group settings that create distractions
• Allow at least one to two hours for a thorough interview

Conducting the Interview

Recording Methods

Always ask permission before recording. Options include:

• Audio recording on a smartphone or dedicated recorder
• Video recording that captures facial expressions and gestures
• Written notes as a backup or for relatives who decline recording

Interview Techniques

• Start with easy, comfortable questions before moving to more sensitive topics
• Let the person talk. Resist the urge to fill silences; pauses often lead to deeper memories
• Ask open-ended questions. "Tell me about your grandmother" produces richer answers than "Was your grandmother nice?"
• Follow tangents. When a relative goes off on a seemingly unrelated story, valuable information often emerges
• Ask for specifics. When someone says "we moved a lot," follow up with "where did you live first?"
• Show genuine interest. Your enthusiasm encourages them to share more

Sensitive Topics

Some subjects require careful handling:

• Deaths, divorces, and estrangements may be painful to discuss
• Adoptions and out-of-wedlock births may carry stigma in older generations
• Criminal history or family scandals may be embarrassing
• Financial difficulties may feel private

Approach these topics gently: "I've heard there were some difficult times in the family. Is there anything you would feel comfortable sharing about that?"

Using Photographs as Prompts

Bring any unidentified family photographs to the interview. Photographs are powerful memory triggers:

• "Do you recognize anyone in this picture?"
• "Where do you think this was taken?"
• "What can you tell me about the clothing or setting?"

Also ask if the relative has photographs of their own that they would be willing to share or let you scan.

After the Interview

Transcribe Promptly

Transcribe the recording as soon as possible while your own memory of the conversation is fresh. Note any context or body language that the audio does not capture.

Verify Key Claims

Use the information gathered to search public records and databases. Cross-reference the names, dates, and places your relative mentioned. ActualPeopleSearch can help you quickly verify whether the people and locations mentioned in an interview correspond to real public records.

Follow Up

A single interview rarely captures everything. After reviewing your notes and doing preliminary research:

• Send a thank-you note
• Share any interesting records or photographs you found based on their information
• Schedule a follow-up interview to cover topics you missed or want to explore further

Share the Results

• Send a copy of the recording or transcript to the interviewee
• Share relevant excerpts with other family members
• Incorporate the information into your family tree with proper citation

Making It a Priority

Family interviews have an expiration date that no other genealogical source has. Public records will be available for decades to come, but the memories of living relatives are available only as long as they are. Make interviewing family members your highest genealogy priority.