Genealogy & the Holidays: Using the Holidays to Interview Family

As we move into November, we are offered a unique opportunity to expand our family tree. With Thanksgiving and so many other seasonal holidays quickly approaching, family gatherings are being planned, which makes it a perfect time to interview your family and expand your family tree!

As any Family Historian knows, you will need more information than is always accessible as you build your family tree. Brick walls, missing documents, and inaccurate information are part of the family history game. So, as we research, it is important to look at every avenue available to you to fill in your family tree.

One of the best resources available is the people in our families.

As the holiday season approaches, family historians are given the gifts of holiday events. These gatherings often offer us access to distant family members, extended family, and friends who are part of our family history.

Why not use our scheduled family gatherings to expand our research?

IN ADVANCE! It’s always best to talk to your relatives before a holiday gathering. Will they want to participate? Is it okay to record the conversation?

Asking these questions before the event will save time and allow you to prepare for speaking with your living ancestors. Once your relatives agree to be interviewed, there are a few things you need to do in advance.

First, you will need:

• a Recording Device
• Pen and Paper
• a Designated area to hold the interviews

Check with your host or hostess to ensure they are okay with your plan to interview — or if you’re the host or hostess — let your guests know what you have planned.

On the day of your family gathering, take the time to write things down, or, if your family member has consented, record your conversations on video and sound.

Second, have a list of questions ready to go!

Here is a list of some questions to get you started:

• What are your earliest memories of your family?
• Where did your parents and grandparents grow up?
• What were their occupations?
• Did they have any siblings?
• What were their religious beliefs?
• What were their political views?
• Did they serve in the military?
• What were some of the challenges they faced in their lives?
• What were some of the joys they experienced in their lives?
• What advice would they give to you?

Using the holidays is an excellent way to gain access to relatives you may not see the rest of the year. They are an opportunity to expand your family tree and add intimate details and personal memories to your Family History Binder. With a bit of preparation and thoughtfulness, you can make the holidays the perfect time to not only celebrate the family that is here but memorialize those who have passed.

Until next time, happy record hunting!!

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Check out last week’s post: Séances and Spirits: The Spiritual Movement and Tracing Family History & Follow my profile for alerts!

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Aryn is a genealogist who researches family trees, a lover of local cemeteries, and a social history enthusiast. She helps people discover their family roots and heritage.