“Daddy, tell me that story again about the time the pigs chased you and your friend across a field.”
“Grandma, I’m bored. What did you do in the summer for fun when you were 14?”
Most kids—and adults, for that matter—get a kick from the stories told to them by relatives about their younger days. Often humorous or nostalgic, these tales often become a part of family lore. No doubt even our distant ancestors shared their yesterdays in this same way with their children around a fire or over a meal of pottage and rye bread, providing some entertainment while passing along some history and local customs.
It was this reservoir of knowledge and experience that I tapped when I used to teach U.S. history to seminars of homeschooling students. Nearly every year, I asked them to interview someone older than their parents: a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or a family friend. They were to seek details about that person’s childhood, schooling, occupations, and interests, and, when possible, connect those memories to past events. A grandmother who was a child during World War II, for example, might offer insights into life on the home front.
These interviews strengthened the bonds between the younger and the older generation and helped history come alive. Reading about the Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive, for example, gives a student context and dates, but listening to an uncle who fought there as a Marine has a much more dramatic impact. In addition, these exchanges frequently transported students deeper into the past than they had originally imagined. A high school sophomore listening to her 70-year-old grandmother reminisce about her own grandmother might suddenly find herself time-traveling back to the late 19th century.
It’s great fun and educational, so if any of my young readers decides to become an amateur journalist bent on conducting interviews such as these, here are some pointers to get you started. These tips are gleaned from the dozens of interviews I myself have conducted in the past seven years.
Do Your Research
First, review the basics of 20th-century U.S. history. If great-aunt Mary is 75 years old, then you should bring some knowledge of events such as World War II, the Cold War, the civil rights movement, and the Apollo space program to the interview.Prep Your Questions
Write out a list of questions beforehand to keep the interview on track and to cover all the bases. Ask personal questions— “What was it like living in Wyoming back then?” “Why did you decide not to go to college?”—but aim others at the broader society and culture, such as “What did you think of Jimmy Carter as president?” and “Do you remember what you were doing when the planes hit the Twin Towers?” If you need more questions, or if you’re afraid you’ll forget something important, search online for “students interviewing relatives about history,” and you’ll find some great helps.Be Flexible
But don’t get too hung up on your list of questions. It’s when people ramble off-topic that some remarkable revelations may occur. When asked about the 1960s, Aunt Mary may suddenly become all excited about someone named Twiggy and the miniskirt craze. You may have never heard of Twiggy, but she was one of the first international models and played a role in creating a revolution in the world of fashion.Take Notes
Record the conversation if you like. If you decide instead to take notes on your laptop or by hand, keep in mind that jotting down just a few details will usually fix an entire description or scene in your memory. If you’re taking down a quote, that’s the time to aim for accuracy.Go Above and Beyond
If you’re looking for a bigger project, say for a history paper at school, feel free to widen the scope of your interviews. Several of my students once worked with a group in Asheville, North Carolina, interviewing veterans at the VA hospital. A senior citizens center is also a perfect place to find older people who are willing to share their histories.Follow Up With Gratitude
Follow up your interviews with a thank you, even one delivered by phone or email, and even if it’s just to Grandpa.Have Fun
Finally, shake off that stress you may be feeling and have some fun with this activity. You’ll find that most people like to talk about themselves. You’ll also find that many older people are pleased and flattered by your invitation.Don’t Forget Yourself
Other than discovering more about the past, there’s one more important lesson you’ll learn from these interviews. Many people think of history in the past tense, some long-ago event, but in reality, history is what happened in the world one minute ago. So take a lesson from this interview, and remember that every day, you too are a part of history.
