How to interview a relative (and actually get the stories)
Records give you dates. Relatives give you meaning. A few simple habits turn an awkward chat into a recording you will treasure.
Ask about ordinary days
Big events are rehearsed. Ordinary days are not. Ask what a school morning looked like, what dinner was, who lived on the street.
Bring a photograph
One old picture can carry a whole conversation. Ask who is in it, who took it, and what happened just after.
Record, then write it down within a day
Use your phone with permission, and add the highlights to the person’s biography while the conversation is fresh.