Interviewing Your Relatives

Submitted by HOST GFS LBall@aol.com

It is very important that you find out from whomever you can about the possibility of other living members of your extended family, that might be living elsewhere. Maybe some you have never even met before. Maybe your grandmother had 3 brothers and 3 sisters, and they all married and had children that had children. Although they are somewhat distant in your direct line, they might be able to share a different angle on the life some of your ancestors, they might even know other living relatives you can write to call or email.

I myself have been lucky that I started my genealogy research at a rather young age and 3 of my 4 grandparents were living. However, I did miss an opportunity of a lifetime, in that my great-grandmother was also living, up until 1986, when I was 20 years old, and I never took advantage of at least trying to speak to her. (she was in a nursing home, and most of the time spoke Polish or Russian .. but I could and should have tried). Now its this very same greatgrandmother, that I can not find her original place of birth for..over in Poland.

When you find out about a relative that is still living that you can call or write, try and do that right away. Its so easy to say, I will do that, but you really have to follow through. And you shouldn't wait.

Another of my new found relatives (cousin of my grandfather), was only 47 years old, and was killed in a car accident. And I didn't get my letter or questions out in time. Not to mention the fact that, I never did meet him.

Two of my grandparents have died this passed year. I am glad that I asked them questions. I am glad I found out dates and places and names... but now that they are gone, there are still questions I wish I would have asked. I now recommend making a list of questions. Sometimes when your interviewing someone, you get to talking, about memories and old times and such, and you forget to ask for the specific dates, places, or names you need.

All in all, now that I have had to face these unexpected deaths , I can see the importance of asking, and re-asking, and even re-asking after that too ! If you talk with someone, and later call them again, after a couple weeks or any length of time, they may have thought of something after your first visit. Something that can be very useful.

What this boils down to simply is:

1. Make a list of questions you want or need answers to

2. Don't wait, make that phone call or write that letter Today

3. Contact them again, a short time later, to see if they have thought of anything new or have anything else to say.

4. Most important: don't end up having to regret that you waited, while your standing in a cemetery, looking at the grave of someone you could have gotten to know, or ask what you would have like to know.

My 2 cents: Linda Ball aka Host GFS LBALL

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