Interview questions about Life Events:

Immigration:

When did the first family member come to America? Where did they come from? How did they get here? Are any family members still abroad?

Courtship:

How did you meet your spouse? How long did you know each other before you were married? Can you describe your wedding?

Work:

How did you earn a living when you were young? What was your first job?

Holidays:

What were your favorite holidays? Did you have special holiday customs or foods?

Vacations:

Did you ever go on a vacation? Where? Who went with you? What did you do for fun?

Births:

Can you describe the birth of your son or daughter? Where were you? Who was there? How did you choose his or her name?

Daily Life:

How did you travel from place to place? Did your family have a car? What were your favorite pastimes? How did your children behave?

Interview questions about Objects:

Photos:

Go beyond the edges of the photo when looking at family pictures: Where was the picture taken? Who took the picture, for they are not in the photograph but must have been in the place? Why were the people in the photo gathered? How are they related? Why were they together at this moment? What were they doing?

Jewelry:

Who wore the jewelry? Why was it given? Did it mark a special occasion?

Utensils or Family Recipes:

Who used it? Where did they live? How was it used?

Furniture:

Where was the furniture originally? Can you describe the rest of the house?

Interview questions about Important Transitions:

Try devising some of your own questions about these topics: Birth in the family, Growing Up, Change of Jobs, New Houses, Going Off to School, Getting Married, Funerals in the Family

Tips:

Ask where the story took place.
Ask who was in the story.
Ask what happened in the story.
These types of questions may lead you to hear a family story that has a clear setting, believable characters, and a plot. "How did it end?" may offer a conclusion.