Biography question examples

Have you ever wanted to know what your mother was like as a child? What your grandfather did for a living? Or how your parents met? Below are 25 Life Story Questions to ask your parents or grandparents to learn more about their life stories and your family history.

As a Legacy Video producer, I ask over 100 questions in an interview so be sure to add your own questions to the list. And don’t forget to ask follow-up questions!

Life Story Questions

1. What is your full name?
2. When and where were you born?
3. Were you named after anyone?
4. What is/was your father’s/mother’s name?
5. Where was he/she from?
6. Describe your father/mother.
7. What did your father/mother do for work?
8. What were your father’s/mother’s parents’ names?
9. Where were they were from?
10. What did your father’s/mother’s parents do for work?
11. Do you know any more about their family history?
12. How did your parents meet?
13. Do you have any siblings? List names and birthdates.
14. Where did you grow up?
15. Describe the neighborhood/s.
16. What schools did you attend?
17. What were your
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    Have you ever wanted to know what your mother was like as a child? Where your grandfather was from? How your parents met? Below are 35 Biography Questions to ask your parents or grandparents to learn more about their life stories and your family history.

    As a Legacy Video producer, I ask well over 100 questions in an interview so be sure to add your own to the list. And don’t forget to ask follow-up questions!

    Biography Questions

    1. What is your full name?
    2. When were you born?
    3. Where were you born?
    4. What is/was your mother’s name?
    5. Where was she from?
    6. What do you now about your mother’s early years?
    7. What were your mother’s parents’ names?
    8. Where were they were from?
    9. What did they do for a living?
    10. What was/is your father’s name?
    11. Where was he from?
    12. What do you know about your father’s early years?
    13. What were your father’s parents’ names?
    14. Where were they were from?
    15. What did they do for a living?
    16. How did your parents meet?
    17. Do you have any siblings?
    18. Where did you grow up?
    19. Describe the neighborhood/s.
    20. What s
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        Education

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        Because every individual is unique and every interviewer has his or her own special interests and research goals, there is no single set of questions that will fit every situation. The following are some that might help guide an interview with a relative or community member about family folklore and local traditions. Pick and choose among them to suit your own interests, and change the wording as you see fit. Ultimately, the most useful questions will be those that you develop yourself based on your knowledge of your own family and/or community. Remember not to be tied to a formal list of questions; rather use your questions as guideposts for the interview. Be flexible and have fun!

        Biographical Questions

        • What is your name?
        • Where and when were you born?
        • Where did you grow up?
        • Where have you lived?
        • What jobs have you had?
        • What do you do for a living now?

        Family Folklore

        Q: What do you know about your family name? Are there stories about its history or origins? Has it undergone any changes? Are there any stories about those changes?