Recently, as part of my work co-authoring and researching The Wirrabara Whalans, we compiled a list of questions for use in interviewing cousins about their parents. We have called them ‘the cousin questions’ ever since. When people ask for help completing their only geneological research, we have often recommended these questions as a starting point.
- Did your parent have a significant nickname or alias?
- Tell me about your parent’s childhood.
Where did they go to school? Did they tell any school stories? Is there particular stories they used to share from their childhood? What surprises you most about your parent’s childhood? How was your upbringing different to your parent’s?
- Where did your parent live and work?
Please include dates and specific addresses if possible.
- How did your parent meet their partner?
- Tell me about your parent’s family.
Did they share stories about their siblings? What were Christmas and birthday celebrations like? What were their relationships like?
- What did they say about their parents? What do you remember about your grandparents?
What was your parent’s relationship like with their parents?
- Did they have any habits, idiosyncrasies or mannerisms? Or any sayings or mottos?
- Were they part of any clubs or organisations?
Sport clubs, Freemasons, church, etc.
- What was your parent’s greatest achievement? What were they most proud of?
- Who was your parent’s best friend?
- What was the best thing that happened in your parent’s life?
- What was the worst thing that happened in your parent’s life?
- Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your parents?
I hope these questions help you as you undertake your family history research.
