In an earlier piece I wrote (and posted) about my grandpa, I wrote that I wish I would have been older, wiser, and less selfish when my grandpa was still around. I said I would have asked him all kinds of questions about his life to get to know him better.
I have put together a comprehensive list of interview questions by combining smaller interview lists and adding many of my own questions, as well. This is a list similar to one I wish I would have asked my grandpa about.
I wanted to post it for anyone who still has parents and grandparents living and would like to document their lives and get to know them better.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
INTRODUCTION
1) What is your full name? (Please include maiden and married names.)
2) Do you know how you got your name? Were you named after someone/something?
3) Do you have (or have you ever had) any nicknames?
4) How old are you right now?
5) Where do you live right now?
ABOUT EARLY LIFE
6) When were you born?
7) Where were you born?
8) Were you born in a house or a hospital? Which house/hospital were you born in?
ABOUT GROWING UP
9) Did you grow up where you were born?
10) Did you move when you were growing up? Where to?
11) What were you like as a young kid?
12) What were you like as a teenager?
13) What were you like as a young adult?
14) As a child, was there anything you wanted to be when you grew up?
15) What was your childhood like?
16) Did you live in the country, in a town, or a big city?
17) What was your house/apartment/farm like? Big? Small? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Did it have electricity, indoor plumbing, or telephones?
18) What did your family enjoy doing together?
19) Do you remember any fads from your youth? (Popular hairstyles, clothes, dances, etc…)
20) Who were your childhood heroes?
21) What were your favorite songs and music?
22) Did you have any pets growing up? What kind? Do you remember their names?
23) Did you grow up wealthy? Or poor? How did that affect you?
24) What did you do for entertainment/social life growing up?
25) What did you look like growing up?
26) What were you good at growing up?
27) What were you bad at growing up?
28) What were some of your hobbies/interests growing up?
29) What were your favorite games and activities?
30) What was your favorite toy growing up? Why?
31) Did you have a bicycle as a child?
32) Did you get presents as a child? What was your most memorable one?
33) How were Holidays celebrated in your family growing up? Were there special traditions?
34) Did you have a radio or TV? When did you get your first one?
35) Did your family have big reunions?
36) Did you have family chores? What were they? Which was your least favorite?
37) Describe a typical family dinner. Did you all eat together as a family? Who did the cooking?
ABOUT EDUCATION
38) What level of education have you completed?
39) What was school like for you as a child?
40) What kind of grades did you make?
41) What were your best subjects?
42) What were your worst subjects?
43) What school activities and sports did you participate in?
44) Did you attend college or trade school? Where? What did you study?
ABOUT WORK
45) What did/do you do for a living/profession?
46) How/why did you choose your profession?
47) Is this the profession you always thought you’d have?
48) If you wouldn’t have done this for a living, what do you think you may have done, instead?
49) What other jobs have you worked over the course of your life?
ABOUT THE MILITARY
50) Did you serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
ABOUT RELIGION
51) Are you religious? If so, what religion do you follow?
52) Have you always followed this religion?
53) Does your spouse follow this same religion?
54) Are you a member of any church?
ABOUT MARRIED LIFE
55) Are you married or have you ever been married? How many times?
56) Who did you marry? (Please include maiden name for wives.)
57) When did you get married?
58) Where did you get married? (City, State)
59) Did you get married in a church? If not, where?
60) Did you have a large wedding or a small one?
61) Who in the family was at your wedding?
62) Does your spouse have a nickname?
63) When and where was he/she born?
64) Where did your spouse grow up?
65) What was your spouse’s childhood like?
66) What does/did your spouse do for a living/profession/work?
67) Did your spouse serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
68) Who are your spouse's parents? When and where were they born?
69) How did you meet and fall in love?
70) How old were you when you got married?
71) How old was your spouse?
72) How long did you know each other before you got married?
73) How long did you date before you got married?
74) What was it like when you proposed (or were proposed to)? When and where did it happen?
75) What memory stands out the most from your wedding day?
76) How would you describe your spouse? What do/did you admire most about them?
77) How long have you been (or were you) married?
78) What do you believe is the key to a successful marriage?
ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN
79) Do you have children? How many boys? How many girls?
80) What are their names (including nicknames) and birthdates?
81) Why/how did you choose your children’s names?
82) What do they do for a living?
83) Did any of your kids serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
84) Are they married? To whom?
85) Do they have kids? How many boys? How many girls?
86) What are their kids’ names and birthdates?
87) How did you find out you were going to be a parent for the first time?
88) What has been your proudest moment as a parent?
ABOUT YOUR MOTHER
89) What is/was your mother’s full name?
90) What is her maiden name?
91) Do you know how she got her name? Was she named after someone/something?
92) Did she have a nickname?
93) Is she still living?
94) When and where was she born?
95) Where did she grow up?
96) Did she ever tell you what her childhood was like?
97) Please list your mother’s siblings along with birthdates, spouses, kids, etc…
98) What level of education did she have?
99) What did your mother do for a living/profession/work?
100) Did she belong to any clubs/organizations?
101) Did your mother serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
102) Where did you mother’s ancestors come from?
103) What was your mother’s father’s name?
104) Do you know when and where your mother’s father was born?
105) What was your mother’s mother’s name? Please include maiden name, if known.
106) Do you know when and where your mother’s mother was born?
107) How is/was her health?
108) Was she ever severely ill or injured?
109) If she has passed, when did she die?
110) If she has passed, how did she die?
111) Where is she buried?
112) Did she ever say how she felt about death or dying?
113) Was your mother strict?
114) How do you feel when you think about her? Happy? Sad? Something else?
115) What skills did she teach you?
116) What important lessons did you learn from her? What influence/effect did she have on your life?
117) How are you like her?
118) Describe your mother physically. What did she look like? Please include details.
119) What were your mother’s hobbies/interests?
120) What skills/talents did she have? What was she good at? What was she bad at?
121) Do you remember hearing stories about your mother from when she was young? Will you share those, please?
122) What was your mother like? What do remember most about her? What made her special? What do you want us to know about her?
123) Close your eyes and picture your mother. What is she doing right now, in your thoughts?
124) Did your parents ever tell you how they met and/or fell in love? Please share that story.
125) Did your mother marry more than once? If so, please list other spouses, marriage/divorce dates, children, etc…
ABOUT YOUR FATHER
126) What is/was your father’s full name?
127) Do you know how he got his name? Was he named after someone/something?
128) Did he have a nickname?
129) Is he still living?
130) When and where was he born?
131) Where did he grow up?
132) Did he ever tell you what his childhood was like?
133) Please list your father’s siblings along with birthdates, spouses, kids, etc…
134) What level of education did he have?
135) What did your father do for a living/profession/work?
136) Did he belong to any clubs/organizations?
137) Did your father serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
138) Where did your father’s ancestors come from?
139) What was your father’s father’s name?
140) Do you know when and where your father’s father was born?
141) What was your father’s mother’s name? Please include maiden name, if known.
142) Do you know when and where your father’s mother was born?
143) How is/was his health?
144) Was he ever severely ill or injured?
145) If he has passed, when did he die?
146) If he has passed, how did he die?
147) Where is he buried?
148) Did he ever say how he felt about death or dying?
149) Was your father strict?
150) How do you feel when you think about him? Happy? Sad? Something else?
151) What skills did he teach you?
152) What important lessons did you learn from him? What influence/effect did he have on your life?
153) How are you like him?
154) Describe your father physically. What did he look like? Please include details.
155) What were your father’s hobbies/interests?
156) What skills/talents did he have? What was he good at? What was he bad at?
157) Do you remember hearing stories about your father from when he was young? Will you share those, please?
158) What was your father like? What do remember most about him? What made him special? What do you want us to know about him?
159) Close your eyes and picture your father. What is he doing right now, in your thoughts?
160) Did your father marry more than once? If so, please list other spouses, marriage/divorce dates, children, etc…
ABOUT YOUR SIBLINGS
161) How many siblings do you have? How many brothers? How many sisters?
162) Which siblings are still living? Which have passed?
163) Please list each sibling along with their names (including nicknames), dates of birth, spouse’s name/s, kids’ names.
164) Describe each of your siblings. What were they like growing up? Who was the smart one, who was the fast one, who was the class clown, etc...?
165) What do/did each of your siblings do for a living?
166) Did any of your siblings serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
167) Do you have any stories to share about your siblings?
ABOUT YOUR PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS
168) What is your paternal grandfather’s full name?
169) Do you know how he got his name? Was he named after someone/something?
170) Did he have a nickname?
171) Is he still living?
172) When and where was he born?
173) Where did he grow up?
174) Did he ever tell you what his childhood was like?
175) Please list your grandpa’s siblings along with birthdates, spouses, kids, etc…
176) What level of education did he have?
177) What did he do for a living/profession/work?
178) Did he belong to any clubs/organizations?
179) Did he serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
180) Where did his ancestors come from?
181) Do you know anything about his parents? (Names, birthdates, etc…)
182) How is/was his health?
183) Was he ever severely ill or injured?
184) If he has passed, when did he die?
185) If he has passed, how did he die?
186) Where is he buried?
187) Did he ever say how he felt about death or dying?
188) Was he strict?
189) How do you feel when you think about him? Happy? Sad? Something else?
190) What skills did he teach you?
191) What important lessons did you learn from him? What influence/effect did he have on your life?
192) How are you like him?
193) Describe your paternal grandfather physically. What did he look like? Please include details.
194) What were his hobbies/interests?
195) What skills/talents did he have? What was he good at? What was he bad at?
196) Do you remember hearing stories about him from when he was young? Will you share those, please?
197) What was your paternal grandfather like? What do remember most about him? What made him special? What do you want us to know about him?
198) Close your eyes and picture your paternal grandpa. What is he doing right now, in your thoughts?
199) Did he marry more than once? If so, please list other spouses, marriage/divorce dates, children, etc…
200) What is your paternal grandmother’s full name? Please include maiden name, if known.
201) Do you know how she got her name? Was she named after someone/something?
202) Did she have a nickname?
203) Is she still living?
204) When and where was she born?
205) Where did she grow up?
206) Did she ever tell you what her childhood was like?
207) Please list your grandma’s siblings along with birthdates, spouses, kids, etc…
208) What level of education did she have
209) What did she do for a living/profession/work?
210) Did she belong to any clubs/organizations?
211) Did she serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
212) Where did her ancestors come from?
213) Do you know anything about her parents? (Names, birthdates, etc…)
214) How is/was her health?
215) Was she ever severely ill or injured?
216) If she has passed, when did she die?
217) If she has passed, how did she die?
218) Where is she buried?
219) Did she ever say how she felt about death or dying?
220) Was she strict?
221) How do you feel when you think about her? Happy? Sad? Something else?
222) What skills did she teach you?
223) What important lessons did you learn from her? What influence/effect did she have on your life?
224) How are you like her?
225) Describe your paternal grandmother physically. What did she look like? Please include details.
226) What were her hobbies/interests?
227) What skills/talents did she have? What was she good at? What was she bad at?
228) Do you remember hearing stories about her from when she was young? Will you share those, please?
229) What was your paternal grandmother like? What do remember most about her? What made her special? What do you want us to know about her?
230) Close your eyes and picture your paternal grandma. What is she doing right now, in your thoughts?
231) Did she marry more than once? If so, please list other spouses, marriage/divorce dates, children, etc…
232) Did your paternal grandparents ever tell you how they met and/or fell in love? Please share that story.
ABOUT YOUR MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS
233) What is your maternal grandfather’s full name?
234) Do you know how he got his name? Was he named after someone/something?
235) Did he have a nickname?
236) Is he still living?
237) When and where was he born?
238) Where did he grow up?
239) Did he ever tell you what his childhood was like?
240) Please list your grandpa’s siblings along with birthdates, spouses, kids, etc…
241) What level of education did he have?
242) What did he do for a living/profession/work?
243) Did he belong to any clubs/organizations?
244) Did he serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
245) Where did his ancestors come from?
246) Do you know anything about his parents? (Names, birthdates, etc…)
247) How is/was his health?
248) Was he ever severely ill or injured?
249) If he has passed, when did he die?
250) If he has passed, how did he die?
251) Where is he buried?
252) Did he ever say how he felt about death or dying?
253) Was he strict?
254) How do you feel when you think about him? Happy? Sad? Something else?
255) What skills did he teach you?
256) What important lessons did you learn from him? What influence/effect did he have on your life?
257) How are you like him?
258) Describe your maternal grandfather physically. What did he look like? Please include details.
259) What were his hobbies/interests?
260) What skills/talents did he have? What was he good at? What was he bad at?
261) Do you remember hearing stories about him from when he was young? Will you share those, please?
262) What was your maternal grandfather like? What do remember most about him? What made him special? What do you want us to know about him?
263) Close your eyes and picture your maternal grandpa. What is he doing right now, in your thoughts?
264) Did he marry more than once? If so, please list other spouses, marriage/divorce dates, children, etc…
265) What is your maternal grandmother’s full name? Please include maiden name, if known.
266) Do you know how she got her name? Was she named after someone/something?
267) Did she have a nickname?
268) Is she still living?
269) When and where was she born?
270) Where did she grow up?
271) Did she ever tell you what her childhood was like?
272) Please list your mother’s siblings along with birthdates, spouses, kids, etc…
273) What level of education did she have
274) What did she do for a living/profession/work?
275) Did she belong to any clubs/organizations?
276) Did she serve in the military? When? Where? Which branch?
277) Where did her ancestors come from?
278) Do you know anything about her parents? (Names, birthdates, etc…)
279) How is/was her health?
280) Was she ever severely ill or injured?
281) If she has passed, when did she die?
282) If she has passed, how did she die?
283) Where is she buried?
284) Did she ever say how she felt about death or dying?
285) Was she strict?
286) How do you feel when you think about her? Happy? Sad? Something else?
287) What skills did she teach you?
288) What important lessons did you learn from her? What influence/effect did she have on your life?
289) How are you like her?
290) Describe your maternal grandmother physically. What did she look like? Please include details.
291) What were her hobbies/interests?
292) What skills/talents did she have? What was she good at? What was she bad at?
293) Do you remember hearing stories about her from when she was young? Will you share those, please?
294) What was your maternal grandmother like? What do remember most about her? What made her special? What do you want us to know about her?
295) Close your eyes and picture your maternal grandma. What is she doing right now, in your thoughts?
296) Did she marry more than once? If so, please list other spouses, marriage/divorce dates, children, etc…
297) Did your maternal grandparents ever tell you how they met and/or fell in love? Please share that story.
ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY
298) Do you remember hearing any stories about how our family came to America?
299) Are there any family heirlooms that have been handed down from generation to generation? What are they? Who did they originally belong to? Who has them now?
300) Who were the great cooks in the family? What were their best dishes?
301) Do you have any special family recipes you could share with us?
302) Do you have any old letters written by your ancestors?
303) Do you have any old family diaries or journals?
304) Do you have old family photos that we could see/share/copy?
305) Has anyone written down the family history before that you are aware of?
306) Is there a Family Bible that you know about? If so, where is it and who has it?
307) Can you tell me about any “black sheep” in the family?
308) Are there any stories of famous or infamous relatives in the family?
309) What do you know about your family surname?
310) Are there any physical characteristics that run in the family?
311) Are there any ailments or diseases that run in the family?
ABOUT NOW
312) What are your current hobbies/interests?
313) What is your earliest childhood memory?
314) What are your best memories from your life?
315) What are your worst memories from your life?
316) What was one of the best unexpected things to happen in your life?
317) What was one of your most exciting adventures or journeys?
318) Do you have any regrets from your life that you would like to share?
319) What accomplishments are you most proud of?
320) Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper?
321) Did you ever save anyone’s life? If so, who, when, where, and how?
322) Did anyone ever save your life? If so, who, when, where, and how?
323) What world events had the most impact on you through your life?
324) How is the world different today than it was when you were growing up?
325) Who is the oldest relative you remember as a child? What do you remember about them?
326) Do you remember something funny that happened to you that still makes you laugh?
327) How important is family?
328) What is the one thing you want people to remember about you?
329) What advice would you like to give about life?
