Always ask permission if you want to record your interview, and respect the wishes of your subject if they seem uncomfortable talking about a particular subject. It helps if you have prepared a list of questions in advance, as you can steer the conversation towards safer – or perhaps more interesting – territory. You may also need to make more than one visit as new information comes to light, especially if you want to tackle a particular story or family myth.
It is a sensible idea to compare accounts of an event as remembered or described by as many members of your family as possible; memories can fade over time, and it is always tempting to play up the importance of a particular episode in the past. Where accounts of events overlap, and there is agreement, it is likely that you have a kernel of truth to chase down in archives.
