Hands up everyone who would like to be able to go back in time and ask your ancestors Questions?
The more research that I do, the more questions that I have.
- Why did you come to Australia to be a poor farmer when your family in Scotland were quite wealthy?
- Why is there no record of how you arrived in Australia? How did you get here?
- What was the boat trip like?
- Where did the family come from?
- What was the name of your parents/grandparents?
My grandmother answered many questions for me but when she died in 2006 at age 96, I realised that there were so many more questions that I should have asked.
Now when I visit family members I ask as many questions as I can. Here are a few to get you started:
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm
Ask "Open" questions. These are questions that get discussion going and normally begin with How, Why, Where or What.
Photo Albums are a good way to get people talking and with good questioning can lead to some very interesting discussions and information.
So don't delay, get out there are ask your family members as many QUESTIONS as you can, before it is too late.
Now when I visit family members I ask as many questions as I can. Here are a few to get you started:
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm
Ask "Open" questions. These are questions that get discussion going and normally begin with How, Why, Where or What.
Photo Albums are a good way to get people talking and with good questioning can lead to some very interesting discussions and information.
So don't delay, get out there are ask your family members as many QUESTIONS as you can, before it is too late.
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It's ironic that we do genealogy to answer our questions thinking that there is an actual END to it all. Yet one answer leads to another question. You've given us all some good tips and advice here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by Wendy. You are so right; one answer can lead to many more questions.
DeleteToo right the questions never end. We might find answers to some, but they usually provoke more ... but that's genealogy.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why genealogy suits those with an enquiring mind and who like a challenge :)
DeleteI really wish I could go back and ask some of the questions that drive me nuts. What's really nerve wracking is that if I had thought of them, I had the chance to ask the questions but didn't know. If that's not a confusing sentence! Anyway, good Q point.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand Kristin. Me too.
DeleteYes indeed Sharon..the questions we didn't ask (sometimes because we didn't know the people, but not always), are "the ones that got away". Oh for time travel.
ReplyDelete