Questions for Writing a Personal History

Questions for Writing a Personal History

Questions for Writing a Personal History

Gayle Henrie

Subject: RE: RS: Journal

I am not sure if this is what you wanted but...maybe? I copied it straight out of Microsoft Word, where it is by pages about 17 maybe more, so that is why it is very long. Not a lot of text. Hope it helps Gayle in UT 8-}

A Book about Me
This Book Authored By:

About Your Family . . .

1. From what country or countries did you family ancestors emigrate? When was this and where did they settle?
2. What are your parent’s full names?
3. When and where were they born?
4. What was your mother’s maiden name?
5. What do you remember most about your mother from your childhood?
6. What do you remember most about your father from your childhood?
7. What work did your parents do?
8. What is you birthdate?
9. Where were you born?
10. Was there anything unusual about the circumstances of your birth?
11. Were you born in a hospital or at home?
12. What is your full name and how was it chosen? Does it have a special meaning?
13. Who in you family do you most look like?
14. How many brothers and sisters do you have? List them in the order they were born and include yourself and children who may have died early in life or at birth. Include birthdates and places.
15. To whom did you feel closest?
16. How did you spend your time together?
17. Did you ever take trips or vacations with your family? Where did you go? Tell about a favorite one.
18. Was another language besides English spoken in your home? What was it?
19. Did your family attend a church? What was it? Was religion an important part of your family life?
20. Did you family have enough money? Was it ever a concern for you?
21. What were one of two of the worst times in your family life?
22. What were one or two of the best times in your family life?

When You Were Little . . .
(2 - 12 years)

1. What is your first memory going back as far as you can?
2. Where did you live? What do you most remember about your homes?
3. Did you have any nicknames? What were they and did you like or dislike them?
4. Did you have any pets? Tell about them.
5. What did you do for fun? Describe you favorite toy or game.
6. Were you ever really sick?
7. What do you remember about the grammar school you attended? What was the name of it and how did you get there each day?
8. Did you have any favorite books or stories?
9. What did you want to be when you grew up?
10. What did your parents want you to do or be?
11. Do you remember how much things cost?
clothes
food
movies
toys
gasoline
stamps
other
12. How were times different then?
entertainment
toys
chores or cleaning
shopping
transportation
money/economy
working
cooking
raising a family
13. What do we have now that you didn’t have then?
14. What did you have then that we don’t have now?

When You Were Growing Up . . .
(12 - 20 years)

1. What household chores or jobs did you have to do?
2. Did you get an allowance? How did you usually spend it?
3. What did you and your family use for transportation?
4. How many years of high school did you complete? Where did you go to school?
5. What subjects in school did you like the most?
6. What subjects in school did you like the least?
7. Did you play sports in school?
8. Were you involved in any music or drama activities? Tell about them.
9. Did you receive any awards or prizes for achievements in athletics, scholarships, etc.?
10. Were you a member of any clubs? What were they?
11. What songs or dances were popular?
12. What kind of clothing did you wear? How is it different than clothes worn by young people today?
13. Who most influenced your thinking during this time and why?
14. As a teenager, how did you get along with your parents?
15. At what point did you move away from home? Why and where did you go?

Family Traditions and Celebrations . . .

1. As a child, how did you usually celebrate your birthday?
2. What was the best gift you ever got when you were young?
3. Were there any favorite recipes that were usually prepared for family gatherings?
4. What religious holidays were celebrated in your home? Describe the family traditions associated with each; such as special foods served, favorite music and readings, etc.
5. What family or holiday traditions have been the most meaningful to you?

When You Got Married . . .

1. How did you meet your spouse?
2. How old were you when you met?
3. What attracted you to each other?
4. What do you remember most about the courtship?
5. When and where was the wedding?
6. What did you wear?
7. What is your strongest memory from your wedding?
8. Who was there?
9. Did you go on honeymoon? Tell about it.
10. What was your adjustment to married life like? Were there any surprises?
11. Tell a favorite story or two about your spouse.

About Your Children . . .

1. What are your children’s names? When and where were they born?
2. How did you choose their names? Have any of them been passed down through the family?
3. What are some of your favorite recollections of you family life when your children were young?
4. In what ways did you raise your children similarly to your parents?
5. In what ways did you raise your children differently than your parents did?
6. What parts of being a parent have been the most difficult or trying foryou?
7. What parts were easiest or most rewarding?
8. How did you find out that you’d become a grandparent for the first time? How did it feel?
9. What part of being a grandparent do you like best?

Big Events in Your Life . . .

1. What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
2. What was your proudest moment?
3. Most embarrassing moment?
4. Saddest or most painful time?
5. Where have you lived as an adult? Where have you most enjoyed living and why?
6. What was the biggest trip you have ever taken as an adult? Where, when and with whom?
7. Did you ever serve in the military or become involved in wartime service? When and where?
8. Did you receive any higher education beyond high school? Where?
9. What was your major course of study?
10. What honors or educational degrees have you earned?
11. Apart from school, what have been your most important learning experiences?
12. To what organizations have you belonged?
13. Have you ever been hospitalized? For what?
14. What was your first full time job? How much did you earn and what responsibilities did you have?
15. What kinds of work have you done for pay?
16. What kinds of volunteer work have you done?
17. What have been your favorite hobbies or pastimes?
18. Do you have any collections; stamps, coins, rocks, etc.?
19. Do you have any family heirlooms that have been passed down from one generation to another?
20. Have you ever met anyone famous?
21. What major inventions have been developed in your lifetime?
22. To what political party have you belonged?
23. As you look back, do you have any favorite years? What made then so special?
24. What is the one time in your life you’d like to live over again? Why?

Your Views and Feelings . . .
1. What are some of the best books that you have ever read?
2. What is one of you favorite sayings?
3. What do you value most in a friend?
4. What issues or causes have you felt strongly about?
5. What values or religious beliefs to you hold dear?
6. In times of trouble, who or what has helped pull you through?
7. What major happenings in the world have affected your life most?
8. What’s your best advice for your grandchildren?

Additional Thoughts

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