Family Sources
Interview Questions
This section lists sample questions that could be asked when interviewing a relative about himself or one of his ancestors. For more information about interviewing family members, see Interview Techniques. (Note: For convenience, "he" and "his" are used generically).
| Print and use this blank Interview Form [PDF] to plan the questions you would like to ask. |
Questions About Names
What was his Chinese name?
Clan name or surname
Generation name
Given name
Did he have other names, such as a milk name or school name?
Did he use any other names?
Did he adopt an English name?
Questions About Vital Details
When and where was he born?
When and where did he die? What was the cause of death?
When and where was he buried?
Questions About China
Where was his ancestral home in China?
How did he describe his town or village in China?
How did he describe his experiences growing up in China?
Did he send money back to China after moving to Canada?
Are there any family members still living in China?
Questions About Immigration
Why did he leave China to come to Canada?
When did he leave?
Who sponsored his passage or paid for his head tax?
From what port did he leave and by what route did he come to Canada?
What was his port of arrival in Canada?
When did he arrive?
What was the name of the ship?
If he returned to China, either permanently or temporarily, when and why did he go back?
Did any branches of the family go to other parts of the world?
Where did he live when he first arrived in Canada?
Questions About Parents
Who were his parents?
Did they have other Chinese or Western names?
When and where were they born, married, lived, died, and buried?
Questions About Siblings
Who were his brothers and sisters?
Did they have other Chinese or Western names?
When and where were they born?
When, where and who did they marry?
Did they have children? What were their names, and when and where were they born?
When and where did they die?
When and where were they buried?
If they are still alive, do you have their addresses?
Questions About Marriage
What was the name of his spouse?
When and where was she born?
Who were her parents?
When and where did she die?
When and where was she buried?
How did he meet her?
Why did they get married?
When and where did they get married and by whom?
Was he married more than once? (if so, collect details of all marriages)
Questions About Children
What were his children's names?
When and where were they born?
When, where and whom did they marry?
When and where did they die?
When and where were they buried?
If they are still alive, do you have their addresses?
Questions About Employment
What kind of work did he do?
If he changed jobs, why did he change?
Do you know the names of any businesses which he owned or where he was employed?
Questions About Residence
Where did he live (city or town)?
What was the address or approximate location of his home?
If he moved, why did he move and when?
Did he own his home?
Additional Questions
How did he describe his experiences growing up?
Do you know the names of any schools or colleges that he attended?
Did he attend church? If so, what denomination and where was it?
Did he go to Chinese school?
Did he have any special hobbies, interests, or habits?
Did he belong to a clan association, district association, the Freemasons or any other Chinese organization?
Did he serve in any wars? If so, do you know where he served?
What was his personality like?
What did he look like?
Questions About Sources
Do you have any photographs of him? (Ask to make copies).
Do you have his head tax certificate or know where it is?
Do you have any other documents such as birth, marriage or death certificates, head tax, will, employment records, etc.? (Ask to make copies).
Do you have items such as newspaper clippings, etc.?
Has anyone produced a family genealogy or a family history? If so, where is it?
Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 70242
