As you spend time with family over the holidays, take the time to learn more about your relatives and record some family stories. Sit down and chat with multiple generations and make this a group activity. If you have grandchildren, share stories from your life, and talk about your upbringing and stories from generations before you. If you can make an audio recording, conversation will flow more easily.

The following questions are intended to help you convey family history to others, and preserve meaningful stories and traditions. Once you get the conversation going, it will get easier- feel free to tailor the questions to the person you are talking with.

Childhood

  • Describe your childhood home. Can you picture the kitchen? Your bedroom? The living room? The yard?
  • Did you have a favorite toy? A pet?
  • What was your favorite teacher or subject in school? 
  • What did your friends do for fun when you were young? Did you have a best friend?
  • What did you want to be when you grew up? 
  • Did you get an allowance? How much was it and did you save your money, or what did you spend it on? 
  • How far away were your grade school and high school – and how did you get there each day?
  • When you were a child, was your family always able to make ends meet? When times were tough, in what ways did you have to tighten your belts to do without?
  • What were the costs of everyday things such as food, cars, gas and movies when you were growing up?
  • What were some of your favorite hobbies, sports or pastimes when you were a child?
  • When you were a child, how much did you have to help with the family chores, and what were they?
  • What is the earliest memory that you have? 
  • What kind of a social crowd did you hang out with in high school? Were you more of an athlete, an honor student, a rebel?

Family

  • Why did your parents give you your name? Did you have a nickname in grade school or high school? If so, how and why did you get it?
  • Was your mother or father a good cook? Growing up, what were your favorite family meals or recipes?
  • Can you tell a story or two about any black sheep or colorful characters in the family?
  • Are there any family heirlooms or historic objects (a Civil War uniform, a trunk that went through Ellis Island, etc.) that have been handed down from generation to generation – and where are they now?
  • Did you get to know your grandfathers and grandmothers?
  • What did they look like, and what were some of their best qualities?
  • Can you tell me something about your mom – something that reflects her personality or values?
  • Can you tell a story about your dad- something that reflects his personality or values?
  • What is the most important lesson that your parents taught you?
  • Did your parents or grandparents live through any wars? Which ones, and how did they affect you?
  • When you were a child, what was your favorite holiday and how did your family celebrate it?
  • What was your first job, and how much were you paid? Did you like it?
  • What was your first car?
  • Did you have a curfew and what time was it? Did you ever miss curfew? 

Heritage

  • Do you have a holiday tradition? What is your favorite thing about the holidays?
  • Do you remember hearing stories about why and how our ancestors came to this country?
  • Did anyone in your family speak a language other than English at home?

Adulthood

  • How old were you when you first moved out of your parents’ house? How did you feel, and what was your first place like?
  • What were two major news events of your life? How did you feel about them? What influence did they have on you?
  • How did you meet your spouse, where did you get married, and where did you go on your honeymoon?
  • What was it like to start a family?
  • Tell me about the day when my mom/dad was born
  • What were they like growing up?
  • When you were raising your kids, what were your most memorable family vacations or events?

Philosophy

  • Everyone experiences disappointments in life – things they wish they would have turned out differently. What have been some of yours? 
  • What have been three or four of the happiest or most satisfying times of your life so far?
  • Who were some people you looked up to when you were growing up – and who do you look up to now?
  • In what ways has the world changed for the better (and for the worse) since you were a kid?
  • In what ways do you think you have become “wiser” as you have grown older?
  • What are some of the best things in life that money can’t buy?
  • What are some of the best (or most fun) things about being a grandparent? (if applicable) 
  • If you could have any three things, what would they be?
  • How do you finish this sentence: The secret to staying young is…
  • Has life been good to you? What are some of the things that you are most grateful for?
  • What could you tell me that I would be surprised to learn about you? 
  • What makes you happy? 
  • What is different about growing up today than when you were a child?