Suggested Questionnaire and Questions for an Interview

Interviewer:

Date:

Name:

Street:

City:

State:

Zip:

Telephone:

Birth Date:

Birth Place:

Occupation:

Father's Name:

Mother's Name:

Father's Birth Place:

Father's Occupation:

Mother's Birth Place:

Mother's Occupation:

Number of Brothers:

List Brothers' Names:

Number of Sisters:

List Sisters' Names:

Suggested Questions

1. Describe the places where you lived before age 18. (List town and house addresses if possible with date frames)
2. Describe your school. (Who were the teachers, describe a typical day, describe the physical building and classroom, describe the location of the school within the town)

3. Describe a typical Christmas for your family at the time you were a child.

4. Describe your father.

5. Describe your mother.

6. Describe the recreation available to you as a young person.

7. What are some of the most interesting memories you have of growing up?

8. Describe the role religion played in your community.

Naturally, the list is endless, but these basic questions can easily lead to others and provide context for the specifics of your topic. For example, if you are looking at coal mining in southern Colorado, the personal information and the basic question list give context and relevance to the answers and stories you get about coal mining. These basic contextural foundations are important regardless of the topic you are pursuing. Remember: always get as much information as you can about your interviewee. It gives power and credibility to your research and the piece you will write from that research. (Editor--vw)

Author

For corrections and contributions regarding this World Wide Web page, contact Dr. Vernon L. Williams, ACU Box 28130, Department of History, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas 79699.
E-mail: vwilliams@nicanor.acu.edu
FAX 915-674-2369
telephone 915-674-2150.