How to conduct a good family history interview

This weekend, I'm going to have an opportunity to interview a few family members about days gone by. Since these family members are my elders, I'm hoping to ask them what life was like in their neck of the woods around the 1940s and 1950s.

Here are a few of the questions, I plan to use.

• What are your memories of this holiday (see photo above)?
• Were there any stories that were passed down through the generations?
• What was your family's favourite food?
• What did you all do on the weekend?
• What did you learn from your grandparents? your parents?
• What did your family do on Christmas Day?
• What is your saddest/ funniest/ earliest/ most exciting memory?
• What was your mother/ father/ grandmother/ grandfather like as a person? How do you think they would like to be remembered? What is it you miss about them the most?
• Are there any treasured family photos that you can tell me about or share with me?
• Did you have any pets? If so, what can you remember about them?
• What made your family laugh?

Does anyone else have any other suggestions for good questions or conversation starters?