Make sure that you…

1. Tell them what it is for. A class project that is part of a larger project to interview people all over the region to collect the region’s history.

Maybe start out with…. "Mr./Mrs. So and So, for my history class I’m doing interviews with people who grew up in (name of town, i.e. Albany) or (county, i.e. Meigs County). I’d be interested in what you remember about growing up and living in Trimble. Could I interview you?"

NOTE: Some people may think that their stories are of no significance ("Why do you want to interview me – I’ve never done anything."). Put your request in terms that people can understand. Explain that you just want someone to tell you what it was like to - grow up on a farm or – what Amesville was like in the 1930s. ("Well, I can tell you what growing up on a farm was like.") Thank them – tell them that they will be helping you a lot.

2. Tell them that it will become part of a collection of interviews that will be archived and used by other people interested in the history of the 20^th century.
   
3. Do a phone "pre-interview." Find out enough so that you can design questions for them. Where did they grow up? What did their parents do? What kind of work did they do?
   
4. Do research on what historical events they have lived through. (What led to the "Great Depression?" How did WW II affect American life?, etc?)
   
5. Design your questions. Remember: You want to ask open-ended questions that will let them tell the story in their own way. The topics you want to cover are:

• Family Life: Numbers of brothers and sisters, what their parents did, earliest childhood memories, etc.
• Childhood Chores and Activities of Daily Life: Farming routines, mealtimes, household activities, etc.
• What They Did For Fun: Games and activities, movies & music, adventures with their best friends, etc. 
• Schooling: Their first day of school, favorite activities, changes in education since then, etc.  
• After High School: Marriage, higher education, starting a family, etc.
• Work: Their first job and lifelong career, work routines and accomplishments, etc.
• Life Before TVs, Computers, and Microwaves: What was it like before modern conveniences? How has technology changed their lives?
• Memories That Stand Out: Celebrations, holidays, unusual experiences, personal accomplishments, etc.
• Ask decade-related questions about the history of the times. What was it like during wartime in the '40s? The "Red Scare" and "Atomic Age" of the '50s? Were they rebels in the '60s?
• What were important issues or events for them?: Getting a first car, making ends meet, difficulties with farming/coal mining, etc.
• What was the town/area like then? How has it changed

      6.  Finish with: "Is there anything you would like to tell us ?"