It is always a good idea to find a way to record a family story so future generations can read it, or hear it, for themselves. Most people do this by writing things down, or by making an audio recording. This is a good way to make sure that the special history of your family is preserved. For best results, take the time to do it right, and to prepare some good questions.
First, decide on which of your relatives you want to collect a story from. Speaking with older relatives might bring good results, because the longer a person has lived, the more possibility that the person has experienced many things that will make an interesting story. Does one of your relatives have a tendency to reminisce about events from years ago? You might want to start with that person.
If you want to make certain that you can record absolutely everything about the story, it is best to arrange a time to “interview” your relative. A family gathering might be a natural place for stories to be told, but, it might be difficult for you to remember all the details. Not everyone is going to feel comfortable talking into a microphone in the middle of a party! Set aside some time to focus on the story you want to record, and the person who is telling it.
Once you have figured out who to speak with, and what story you want to document, it is time to prepare some good questions. You may want to make an outline to help you remember exactly what it was that you wanted to ask. Or, you might write each question on a notecard, with room on the back to write down the answer. Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”, unless the question is just to confirm information you already know. Asking a person “Is this your birthday?” and then listing off the birthday is a good example of a yes/no question to ask. Otherwise, you will want to ask questions that will encourage the speaker to give you more details of the story.
Questions that start with who, when, where, or how are useful. Where did you grow up? What did your house look like? Where did you go to school? What did you like to wear to school? Who were your friends when you were a kid? What happened next? These are the kinds of questions that can draw out details that the storyteller might not have even remembered before you asked her. It is a good idea to allow for some spontaneity. The story may lead in directions you had not accounted for, and that can be a good thing. With luck, you may be back to record another piece of family history on another day.
Image by Jeremy Mikkola on Flickr