Personal History Interview
Questions
How
did you first meet your in‑laws?
And
your Father-In-Law?
Did
you serve in the military? If so, where and when? What do your remember most
about the experience?
Tell
how you feel about water, playing in it, using it. Tell about various bodies of water you have
seen and an experience or feeling about it.
Tell
about how, when and where you learned to drive or any memorable experiences
involving driving.
Write
about one relative (other than immediate family) in your family that you have
special feelings for.
Did
you go camping? Tell about some experiences doing it.
Describe
the home(s) you grew up in:
Would
you choose differently if you could choose your occupation again? Why? How? Any
advice?
If
you could be and animal, which one would you choose and why?
Tell
about your mother:
Tell
about your wedding. Where it was, by whom, parties, given, receptions, maid of
honor, best man, colors, flowers, special music, cost, etc.
What
do you remember about yourself as a teenager? What was important to you? Your
dreams? Yours goals?
Tell
about early romances.
Did
you go to college or take any vocational training? What and where?
Were
there any world, local, or personal events that changed your life?
Describe
a favorite vacation in your married years.
Tell
about your parents philosophy of raising
kids, discipline, rules, etc.
Do
you recall any special events which took place on your block or in your
neighborhood while you were growing up, deaths, fires, accidents, illnesses
(quarantines), etc.?
Tell
about any pets you had as a child.
Tell about your teenage
social life. Your friends, dances, movies, dating, outings, church functions,
etc.
Tell about your father ‑
personality, characteristics, stature, coloring, talents, temperament, family
stories about him, his role in your home etc.
What convinced you most in
you choice of a spouse?
Did
you belong to girl/boy scouts or 4‑H? Tell about experiences you had there.
Describe
your Sundays as a mother/father.
Where
were you and what were you doing when the first man landed on the moon?
Where
would you most like to vacation and why?
Tell
about school C schools attended, special teachers, friends, classes, activities,
humorous situations, achievements, etc.
What
kind of sports did you play, did you watch, did you like? How about now?
How
did you like being the oldest, youngest or middle child? Did it have any
advantaged or disadvantages?
Where
were you and what were you doing the day President Kennedy was shot?
What
brings you the most peace and why?
Tell
about a special date you had with a girl/boy friend, or your fiancé.
Tell
about a frustrating experience you ve had with a car.
What
kind of music do you like? Any memories associated with specific music.
Tell
where you went to school C list teachers C subjects C friends.
Describe
your mothers wedding dress. What do you know about her wedding?
Tell
about a frustrating experience you ve had on a washday. ... with the machine..
. . the outcome of the clothes.. . . etc.
Thinking
back, was there a teacher(s) or class that had a great influence on you?
How
do you feel about death? Tell about your philosophy of after life. (If this is
a tough one, skip it.)
Tell
a courtship story about your parents, how they met, etc. Then tell the same
about yourself.
Did
you go on a mission? If so where and when? Did you learn a foreign language?
What do you remember most about it?
Describe
the downtown area at Christmas time.., when you were a child.
Where
were you and what were you doing the day the wall came down in East Germany C or the
day of the coup of the USSR
Describe
a typical school day as a child in elementary school.
Tell
about your mother C personality, characteristics, stature, coloring, talents, temperament,
family stories about her, her role in your home, etc.
Tell
about retirement C when, where what will you do with your time?
What
church callings did your parents have? What do you remembers about their
attitudes, feelings, and dedication towards each calling?
Tell
about dreams, expectations, and hopes you have for each of your children.
Have
you met or worked with any famous people? Where when etc.
Describe
a typical day during your high school days.
Where
did your grandparents live? What was their home like? Did it have a certain
"smell" or "look" or "feel" about it?
Describe
a trip downtown as a youngster.
What
is your favorite animal? Tell why.
Tell
about any conditions surrounding your birth that you are aware of. Tell any
interesting stories about your beginnings
How
your name was chosen, any close calls, etc.
Write
your testimony of life marriage the gospel.
Where
would you most like to live most of all and why?
What were your fathers best
traits? His worst? What traits do you share?
Tell about religion practiced
in your home C faith promoting stories, etc.
How do you feel about
winning? Losing?
Describe your wedding dress,
bridesmaid s dresses, etc.
Describe getting a Christmas
tree with your family as a child. How did you decorate it.... when did you put
it up... . etc.?
What do you feel has been the
most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime and why?
Tell about any exciting
experiences in your lifetime. (Girl/Boy Scouts, surprises, trips, a dream come
true, winning something, etc.)
How do you feel about school?
Tell about favorite games you
played as a child.
Tell about interesting or
important visitor(s) to your home.
Tell about your favorite
aunt.
What is the most
adventuresome thing you have done?
Describe the perfect spring
day and activities done on that day.
Describe walking down main
street in your hometown.
Tell about family reunions.
Did you have a favorite
subject in school? One you dreaded?
Do you like rainstorms? Why?
Why not? Do you have memories connected to rain?
Write about some places you
went with your mother.
If you could be a tree, what
kind of tree would you be? Why?
Between the ages of five and
ten, what was your favorite activity?
What was your favorite
Saturday activity as a child?
Do you remember a special
birthday party you ve had given or been to? Describe it C people, food, games, etc.
Write a want add that
describes your mother.
Describe the perfect summer
day. What would you do on that day?
Where did your parents live
when they were first married? Tell about other places they have lived as well.
Do you remember special
feelings you had as a child? Fears, fantasies, etc.?
Describe your favorite
dress/outfit as a youngster.., as a youth ... etc.
Describe the perfect winter
day. Tell about an activity you would do on that day.
Share a principle you have
learned, or one you have taught.
What is your advice to those
younger than you?
Tell about some of your
neighbors as a child.. youth. . adult.
Did you and your father share
any interests? Tell about your relationship.
What did you father do for a
living? How did he get to work, what time did he go and get home, did he take
his lunch? Who did he work with? Did he get special training from anyone or
anywhere to his job?
Where you ever in a drama,
speech, sports, pep or glee club, etc.?
What things do you enjoy
doing today that you also enjoyed as a child? Describe then and now,
differences, similarities, etc. How old were you and your husband when you were
married? How old were your parents when they were married? Describe yourselves,
your plans, your hopes, etc. at that time.
Tell about your favorite
uncle.
What special things did you
do with your father?
Describe a childhood
Christmas.
What makes each of your
brothers and sisters special? Be specific.
What did you want to be when
you grew up?
How many brothers and sisters
do you have? Describe them. Tell a story about you and each of them.
Tell about your favorite
General Authority. Who and why?
What special things did you
do with your mother?
What was a favorite place to
go with your family when you were young?
What is your favorite
holiday? How do you celebrate?
Describe your cooking skills
as a young bride. Give one of your favorite recipes and tell where it came
from.
What is your principle
occupation and what circumstances led to it?
Are there any family
heirlooms in your possession? Tell about them and how you came to acquire them.
Describe a favorite childhood
friend and some things your did with her/him.
What do your think about
movies? What is your favorite movie and why?
Did you ever wish you had
more brothers or sisters or less? Why?
Tell the words of a song from
your childhood. What memories does it bring back?
Did it snow where you lived
as a child? What kinds of things did you do in it?
Do you remember any of your
grandparents? Any great grandparents? What were their names? Any memories you
have.
What political party comes
closest to representing your own point of view? How do you feel about politics?
Describe a "sound"
from your childhood. What was it? When did you hear it? What does it bring to
mind?
Describe a typical school day
during your Jr. High/Middle School years.
What is a favorite family
place to go with your husband/wife and kids?
What do you remember about
the day you were baptized?
What are you frightened of?
Why?
How did your mother spend her
time?
Do you have a favorite
author? Who? Why? Tell about your favorite books as a child youth
adult.
Did you and your mother share
an interest in any special activity? What was it?
What instrument do you play
or wish you could play?
Did you have a childhood
hideout? Where? Describe it.
What are some of your
favorite smells? Why?
Did you have a bicycle? What
was it like?
Describe your first paying
job. What was your salary? Your duties? What was your boss like?
How did you become engaged?
What do you think about
television?
Write a want add that
describes your father.
Describe a childhood
birthday.
What did your grandfathers do
for a living? Did your grandmothers work too?
Tell about some of the most
notable people in your hometown.
Did you have a favorite TV
show as a child or youth? Describe it
What do you remember about
shopping with your mother? Any particular stores? What was your favorite store?
Tell about the birth of each
of your children.
Describe the perfect autumn
day. What would you do on the day?
What is the one invention you
could not live without and why?
What makes you feel good?
(Occasion, food, person, etc.)
Do you have a favorite
magazine? Describe it and the kinds of things you learn from it or enjoy about
it.
Where did you live as a
child? (City, country, suburb?)
What are your food
preferences? How did they come about?
What would you like to be
remembered for?
Tell about your favorite
vacation from your childhood.
Tell about the changes you ve
seen in your lifetime: society in general, technology, fashion, fads, morality,
politics, etc.
What is your secret for good
health?
Describe your wedding day.
What personality trait do you
admire most and why?
Who is the first prophet you
remember, what do you remember about him?
What is the biggest lesson in
life you have found to be true?
Did you have roommates or
companions? Tell about them and the things you learned living with others?
What is your greatest joy?
Your greatest sorrow?
What church callings have you
had? Which did you enjoy the most?
Describe your first
home/apartment as a young couple.
Write a want ad that
describes your husband/wife.
Describe your first crush.
What was he/she like?
Tell about your life as the
children left home. New interests, what you did with the extra time, new
employment, moves, hobbies, etc.
Do you like to go to the
theater? The opera? The symphony? Which do you like best? Which production did
you like best and why?
Describe your conversion to
the gospel.
Tell about handed down
talents: foods, clothespin dolls, willow whistles, pottery, quilting,
whittling, meat dryin~, etc.
What were your fears,
expectations and anticipations about getting married?
What do you dream about being
or doing?
How do you feel about dentists?
Why?
Where is the most exciting
place you have ever been? What made it exciting?
Did you have a close
relationship with any of your grandparents? Tell about it.
Tell about all the places you
ve worked.
ONE WORD on how to live
successfully.
What does the mail mean to
you? Are you a good letter writer? Who do you have you enjoyed corresponding
with?
Tell about a fishing or
hunting experiences.
What is your personal secret
for happiness?
What do you think brings good
or bad luck?
What are your most precious
and deeply embedded values?
Describe the most serious
illness you have had.
Were you responsible for any
household chores? What were they? Which did you most enjoy? Least enjoy?
Tell something about each of
your children, their personalities, their talents, their traits that make them
different and special.
What did you used to do as a
child that got you into the most trouble with your parents? How did they handle
it?
Tell about your own family
traditions: Christmas, birthdays, graduations, Fourth of July, Halloween,
Thanksgiving, hunting, funerals, Memorial Day, Mothers or Fathers
Day, Weddings, etc.
Tell about home cures or old
wives tells, for C hiccups, warts, toothaches, colds, earaches, birth
control, arthritis, etc.
What kind of extracurricular
activities did you participate in while in school?
What is the most trying
experience that ever happened to you?
Did you receive your
education other than school?
Do you have a special high
school or college memory?
What is the most wonderful
thing that ever happened to you? The worst?
Tell about your civic or
political activities.
Where do you like to go to
eat out? What do you order?
What is your child rearing
philosophy?
Tell about each of your
children C names, birth dates, birth places, doctors,
circumstances surrounding births, characteristics and differences, raising them
in your home, problems, joys, sorrows, accomplishments, etc.
Tell about the house(s) you
lived in during your childhood. Do you remember the addresses or phone numbers?
If you could be a flower,
which one would you choose and why? What lessons did you take as a child that
carried over in your adult life? What lessons haven t? (piano, violin, dance,
guitar, etc.)
What is the most important
lesson, message, or advice you ve learned that you d like to pass on for others
to profit by?
How do you feel about
doctors? Why?
What is your favorite book. .
.What do books mean to you?
Tell about your grandchildren
C how many? Names? How do you feel about being a grandparent?
Do you recall any outstanding
family trips or summer holidays you experienced as a child?
Did you have a favorite toy
as a child? Did it have a name? What memories are connected with it?
What games did you play in
your house or neighborhood?
Tell about anniversaries
(celebrations, gifts, trips, etc.)
List each of your uncles and
aunts and tell one thing about each of them.
Tell about any ancestors you
know about, dates, names, etc. for historical purposes, and any stories about
them.
What are your favorite
colors? Tell why.
What are your favorite foods?
What are your favorite
activities?
What are your favorite
hobbies?
Are you allergic to anything?
(Uke foods, medicines, flowers, trees, animals, etc.)
What was your most
embarrassing moment?
What do you remember about
the day you received your Patriarchal Blessing?
How did you feel about being
advanced in the priesthood?
What is your favorite
scripture? Tell what this scripture means to you and how it has helped you or
brought blessings into your life.
What was the first piece of
furniture you bought?
