Because genealogy is all about family history, it makes sense to involve your immediate family. First person recollection is very valuable, although it is subject to memory and sometimes that is slightly altered over time. But even with that risk, it is wonderful to get family member’s remembrances recorded.
If you are fortunate in having living parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, aunts ad uncles, you have a treasure chest of information. In spite of the chance for error, the narrative that you hear from a living relative is priceless. The detail they can share, that only they know, is limitless.
So what is the secret to getting valuable information? Of utmost importance is to listen with an open mind. Let the subject lead the way after you have asked an open ended question.
There is a big difference in asking, “Was Aunt Tilly a quiet lady?” and asking, “What kind of a person was Aunt Tilly?” The first question allows a yes or no answer, and that won’t get you much definitive information. Plus, you have decided what the relative will think about. The second question gives the relative a chance to tell how he or she recalls Aunt Tilly and her actions and personality.
Talking and listening, to family members is an excellent source for learning the detail of your ancestor’s life and personality. Of course, when embarking on the project of writing a family history, this is a way to add interesting detail.
~ Pat Johnson is an instructor, speaker, library volunteer for Larimer County Genealogical Society and the Fort Collins Family History Center. Please visit our website at www.lcgsco.org or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lcgsco for our many events.