Genealogy Chat

I am trying to write a book on my family's history and i thought it would be good to send out some questionnaires to family members. If there is anything you thinki should add/ remove or change please let me know also any tips... Questionnaire follows Thank you in advance

Events in a person’s life... Family • Parents • Grandparents • Great Grandparents • Brothers/ Sisters • Aunts/ Uncles • Children • Husband/ Wife • Cousins • What was their dates of birth • Where were they born • Where did/ do they live • What did/ do they look like • What was/ is their personality like • Other Friends • School/ College Friends • Work Friends • Friends • Other School/College • Which Schools/ Colleges attended? • Location of Schools • Names of Teachers? • Faviote Subjects • Worst Subjects • Subjects Taken • Faviote School Meals • Worst School Meal • Sports/ Extra Lessons Taken • What was School like? • What Stationery used? • What Games played at lunch? • What Exams Taken? • Grades • Other Childhood • When was you born • Where was you born • Where did you grow up • Did you live in a house/ flat/ other • Who were your neighbours • What used to happen in your house/ street • What was your house/ Street like • Who lived there • Where did you do your Shopping • Other Work • Where did you/ Partner work • Work Location • What did you have to do • What was the work conditions like • Other Everyday • What/ is everyday like • What did/ do you do • What did/ do you do for entertainment • What did/ do you have for breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc • Where did/do you go for recreation • Other Festive Occasions • What was/ is Festive Occasions like in your house • Did/ do you go to relatives • Did/ do the relatives come to you • What did/ do you do e.g., party, play games etc • What presents did/ do you send • What presents did/ do you receive • Best Present you gave • Worst Present you gave • Best present you received • Worst present you received • Funny Stories • What were/ are the decorations like • Other Holidays • Did/ do you go on holidays • Where • When • Did/ do you stay in a caravan, cottage, hotel etc • What did/ do you do • Other Memories • Faviote memories • Worst memories • Funny memories • Other If there is anything else you can think of and would like to add please do. Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.

Sarah I can see what you are trying to do and wish you luck. However if I was one of your rellies and got the form I would probably think it was far too much trouble and put it at the bottom of my to do list. If the info is to come from elederly rellies then I suspect that you would do far better with a face-to-face interview. Bob

You've missed off inside leg measurement....! i agree with above, too much and quite a lot that duplicates in the sub sections. like the idea but would take ages to complete. try talking! jess

When we sent out questionnaires, we completely forgot two minor questions: Your name and Today's date So now I'm not entirely sure who completed some of them, or when. Make the questionnaire look good. Make it enjoyable to complete. If you're a whizz with computers, why not scan in a photo or some memorabilia. Invite them over and serve the sort of meal you had for special occasions when you were a child. If you are lucky enough to have old family movies, do a film show. Get hold of a local history book - either one with lots of photographs, or one with lots of reminiscences - and send it with the questionnaire. It's going to be little things that trigger memories: smells, sounds etc. Don't push, but do follow things up. If you lose interest, they are unlikely to prompt you by providing more information. Finally, make sure that it is stated on the form that anything they tell you will be treated in strict confidence and not passed on to any other person without the giver's specific permission. Good luck!

Thank you for your advice, I like the idea of adding photo's. Thank You again