Family History

AGE, BIRTH DATE, BIRTH PLACE

1. What is your full name? What nickname(s) have you been called over the years?
2. When were you born?
3. Where were you born?
WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS BORN?
Mother's Side
1. When and where was your mother born?
2. Do you know what her maiden name was?
3. What language did she speak?
4. Do you have a photograph of her?
5. Do you know when and where your mother's mother (your grandmother on your mother's
side)was born?
6. What language did she speak?
7. Do you have a photograph of her?
8. When and where was your mother's father born?
9. What language did he speak?
10. Do you have a photograph of him?
11. Do you know when and where was your mother's father born (your grandfather on your
mother's side)?
12. What language did he speak?
13. Do you have a photograph of him?
14. Do you know where your mother's side of the family came from? Which country? Which state?
Father's Side
15. Do you know when and where your father was born?
16. Do you have a photograph of him?
17. What language did he speak?
18. Do you know when and where your father's mother was born (your grandmother on your
father's side)?
19. What language did she speak?
20. Do you have a photograph of her?
21. Do you know when and where your father's father (your grandfather on your father's side) was
born?
22. What language did he speak?
23. Do you have a photograph of him?
24. Do you know where your father's family came from? Which country? Which state?
STORIES ABOUT WHY THE FAMILY EMIGRATED TO AMERICA
1. Do you remember hearing any stories about why your ancestors on your mother's side came to
America?
2. Do you remember hearing any stories about why your ancestors on your father's side came to
America?
3. Do you remember hearing any stories about why your family left the 'old country to come to

America?
1. Your mother's side?
2. Your father's side?
4. Did your immigrant ancestors come to America together?
GRANDPARENTS
Mother's Parents
1. What do you remember about your mother's parents? Do you remember any stories
they used to tell you? Stories others used to tell about them? Do you know how they
met? How they got married?
Grandmother (Mother's side)
1. What kind of person was your grandmother? What kind of personality did she have?
2. What did she look like? What was her most memorable feature?
3. What social class would you say she came from?
4. Did your grandmother work outside of the house?
5. Did she have any hobbies or things she was passionate about?
6. Did she pass on anything in the family's traditions? Either in material possessions or in
some characteristic was of looking at life or doing things? Did she pass on a piece of
jewelry or furniture? Did she pass on a tradition for cooking a certain recipe?
7. Do you have any memories of specific incidents with her?
8. What was she like emotionally? Quiet or jocular? Optimistic or melancholy? Coddling
or stern?
9. Do you have any habits now that you picked up from your grandmother?
10. Do you know how she died?
11. Where is she buried? Is anyone else from her family buried there? Who?
Grandfather (Mother's side)
1. What kind of person was your grandfather?
2. What kind of work did he do?
3. What did he look like? What was his most memorable feature?
4. Did he have any hobbies or things he was passionate about?
5. Do you have any memories of specific incidents with him?
6. What was he like emotionally? Quiet or jocular? Optimistic or melancholy? Coddling or
stern?
7. What sort of things did he pass on in the way of family traditions, special personality
characteristics, ways of doing things or looking at life?
8. Do you have any habits now that you picked up from your grandfather?
9. Do you know how he died?
10. Where is he buried? Is anyone else connected to the family buried there? Who?
Grandmother (Father's side)
1. What kind of person was your grandmother? What kind of personality did she have
2. What did she look like? What was her most memorable feature?
3. What social class would you say she came from?
4. Did your grandmother work outside of the house?
5. Did she have any hobbies or things she was passionate about?
6. Did she pass on anything in the family's traditions? Either in material possessions or in

some characteristic was of looking at life or doing things? Did she pass on a piece of
jewelry or furniture? Did she pass on a tradition for cooking a certain recipe?
7. Do you have any memories of specific incidents with her?
8. What was she like emotionally? Quiet or jocular? Optimistic or melancholy? Coddling
or stern?
9. Do you have any habits now that you picked up from your grandmother?
10. Do you know how she died?
11. Where is she buried? Is anyone else from her family buried there? Who?
PARENTS
1. Do you know how your parents met?
Mother
1. Where did she grow up?
2. What did she do before she married your father?
3. Do you know how long they knew each other, or went out with each other, or were
engaged, before they married?
4. Describe your mother.
5. Tell me a story about your mother that shows her character, that reveals something about
the kind of woman she is/was.
6. How much education did your mother have?
7. Do you remember your mother telling you any interesting stories, either made up or
true?
8. What was your mother's favorite thing to do?
9. What was your favorite thing to do with your mother?
10. What kind of skills do you think you learned from your mother? What sort of habits?
11. Was your mother a warm and loving person? Or did her personality have a strict and
severe side to it? Or both? Or neither?
12. Can you remember a time when she lost her temper with you? What had you done? How
did it end up?
13. Was there any great sadness, tragedy, or regret that she suffered in her life?
14. What religion was she raised in? What church did she attend as a child? As an adult?
15. What do you think is the most important thing you learned from your mother?
16. If she has passed, how did your mother die?
17. Where is she buried? Are there any other family members buried there? Who?
Father
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Where did your dad grow up?

What was his childhood like?
What did he look like? What was his most memorable feature?
What was your father's occupation?
What kind of work did he do as a young man?
Do you remember hearing any stories about your father's life before he met your
mother?
7. How much education did he have?
8. Can you think of a story about your father that illustrates the kind of man he was?
9. What were some of his skills and talents?
10. Describe your father's personality.
11. Describe a time when he lost his temper with you?

12. How did he tend to deal with his troubles and anxiety?
13. Did your father ever serve in the military? Which branch? When?
14. Did your dad ever tell you about the time he served in the military? Stories? How do
you think his time in the military changed your dad?
15. What religion was your father raised in? What church did he attend as a child? As an
adult?
16. What was the most important thing you learned from your father?
17. How did your father die?
18. Where is he buried? Are there any other family members buried there? Who?
YOUR CHILDHOOD
1. Describe the house you grew up in?
2. What are some of your favorite memories as a child?
3. Did your family celebrate Christmas? What special things did you do around the Christmas
season? Was there a special meal that was always prepared? Who carved the meat?
4. What kind of music did your family listen to as you were growing up?
5. Did anyone in your family play an instrument? Sing? Who had the best singing voice?
6. Who were some of your idols as a child? Later as a teenager?
7. Who were some of the heroes of your generation? How did you personally feel about them?
8. When you were a teenager, what were some of your responsibilities around the house?
9. Did you have to help take care of your younger siblings? Do you remember any particular
incidents?
10. What would you say was the biggest trouble you got into as a young person?
11. What was the biggest point of contention or disagreement between you and your parents when
you were growing up?
MILITARY
1. Were you drafted?
2. What was your attitude to being drafted?
3. What was the world situation when you were drafted?
4. Did you enlist? What prompted you to enlist?
5. What do you know of the military traditions of your ancestors? Do you know if anyone else in
the family ever served?
6. What was your parents' reaction to your military service?
COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE
1. Do you remember the very first time you saw your future wife/husband?
2. How long did you know each other before you married?
3. What was your parents' reaction to your getting married?
4. How did you get along with your prospective in-laws?
5. Did your family like your prospective spouse? What did your mother say about him/her?
NOW
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

What was your first job?

So far, what is your proudest accomplishment?
If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?
What will be the most important legacy you leave behind?
What is your most prized possession? Describe it? How did it come to be yours?

HISTORICAL EVENTS
1. Who was the first President of the United States that you remember?
2. Who was the first President that you voted for?
3. Do you have any memories of the Great Depression? Remember your parents telling you
anything about that time?
4. Do you remember when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor? Did your parents tell you anything
about that time? What do you remember of that time?
5. Where were you living during the Vietnam War?
6. Did you or anyone you know go into the military?
7. What was your impressions of the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s?
8. Do you remember President Kennedy's Assignation? What were you doing when you heard the
news?
9. Did the murder of Martin Luther King affect you?
10. Do you remember the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001? What were you doing that day?
11. Did the War on Terror affect you?
12. If you thought about and picked out one aspect of the modern world that strikes you as the
biggest change from when you were growing up, what would you say?
13. What things seem to have stayed the same?
14. Have you ever had the chance to be a hero? Tell me a story.
15. Has anyone ever saved your life? Tell me that story?
16. Looking back, would you say there was ever a turning point in your life? Describe it?
GENERAL FAMILY HISTORY
1. Does your surname have an associated coat of arms?
1. Have you ever seen it? What was the occasion?
2. Can you describe it?
2. What do you know about your surname?
1. Where does it originate?
2. Who was the first person to have this surname in the United States?
3. Did the name ever change?
4. Are there any stories about that change?
3. Are there any Family Legends that you can remember?
1. Describe them.
2. Who told these legends to you?
3. Is there anyone famous in your family tree?
4. Who told you about this connection?
5. Are there any notorious or infamous characters in your family tree?
6. Who told you about them?
4. Are there any traditional first names in your family?
1. What are they?
2. Where do they come from?
3. Is there any tradition to naming children in your family? Such as always giving the first
born son the name of his paternal grandfather?
5. Are there any stories I your family about a great treasure or fortune that was lost or almost but
not quite made?
6. What expressions are used in your family? (Sayings or funny responses)
1. Did they come from specific incidents?
2. Are there any stories that explain their origin?
7. Have any recipes been preserved in your family from past generations?

1. What was there origin?

2. How were they passed down? By word of mouth? By observation? Written down?
3. Are they still in use? By whom?
8. Is there a family cemetery or burial plot?
1. Where is it?
2. Who is buried with whom?
9. Does your family have any heirlooms, objects of sentimental or monetary value that have been
handed down?
1. What are they?
2. Who has them?
3. Are there any stories connected to them?
4. Do you know their origin and the line of passage through the generations?
10. What is your family's medical history?
11. Please sign this to show off your best signature.