DavidHolt

“A Legacy to Stand On” by David Holt
from “This is Your Life Story” by Velma Krauch

1. Your Earliest Remembered Experience
2. Your First Place
3. The House You Lived in as a Child
4. Childhood Years
5. Toys of Childhood
6. Family Pets
7. Summertime: What It Meant to Me as a Child
8. A Favorite Snapshot
9. Your Parent: Mother
10. Your Parent: Father
11. Grandparents
12. Sisters and Brothers
13. Early School Years
14. Junior High School Years: Adolescence
15. High School Years: Future Dreams
16. A Family Gathering Place
17. Military Years
18. The Great Depression
19. War Years: World War ll
20. Work Life
21. Courtship/Wedding
22. Husband or Wife
23. Early Married Years
24. Birth and Life of First Child
25. Raising a Family
26. Neighbors in Your Life
27. A Dear and Close Friend
28. Family Customs/Habits
29. A chosen Relative
30. When the Children Left Home
31. Weddings
32. In-Laws: Past and Present
33. Grandchildren
34. Life as a Widow/Widower
35. Retirement Years
36. When I look Back, I wish I Had…..
37. As I Look Ahead, I Plan to..
38. A Happy Period in Your Life
39. A Difficult Period
40. A Major Change: A Turning Point
41. A Memorable Event in Your Life
42. A Narrow Escape
43. Your Worst Mistake
44. One of Your Smartest Decisions
45. A Special Accomplishment
46. Involvement in the Community
47. Unusual Trip/Adventure/ Vacation
48. Hobbies and Leisure Interests
49. Family Recipes
50. Artifacts/Keepsakes/Heirlooms
51. Values and Ideals from Your Parents
52. Religion, Philosophy, Faith over the Years
53. A Catastrophic Event/ Experience
54. Your Favorite Holiday
55. Remembering Patriotic/ Historical Holidays
56. A Memorable Christmas
57. The New Year: Celebrations Past and Present
58. A Special Family Event
59. A Person Who Influenced Your Life
60. A Life or Lives You Have Touched
61. Favorite Places of Your Life
62. Transportation over the Years
63. Political Interests
64. Fashions over the Years
65. Entertainment
66. The Journey: Searching for Roots
67. State of Health over the Years: Illness, Accident, Hospitalization
68. Risks Encountered
69. Losses in Your Life
70. Deaths

“A Legacy To Stand On” by David Holt    

Use this list as a reminder of stories in your life. Make a note beside each selection that brings up a thought of a story.
Family stories (stories that are told and retold by your family. Already shaped for you),
Family secrets
Homes
Heroes
Fortunes won and lost
Family characters
Reunions
Religion
Holidays
Tragedies
Mistakes
Clothing
Wars
Cooking
Unusual Foods
Professions
Interests-Hobbies
Heirlooms
Artifacts
Phobias
Afflictions
Expressions
Feuds
Traditions
Home Remedies
Hunting and Fishing Tales
Snakes
Wild Animal Stories
Accidents
Ghost Stories
Punishments
Failures
Successes
Toys and Games
Music
Travel
Sex
Coincidences
Special Places
Depression Stories
How Parents Met
Superstitions
Moving
Work
Family Names
Supernatural Tales
Sibling Rivalry
Pets

 ORAL HISTORY QUESTIONS :
• What is your full name and why were you named it?
• Were you named after somebody else?
• Did you have a nickname as you were growing up?
• If you did, what was it and why did they call you that?
• Have you had other nicknames as an adult?
• What do family members call you now?
• Where were you born and when?
• Do you remember hearing your grandparents describe their lives? What did they say?
• Do you remember your great-grandparents? What do you know about them?
• Who was the oldest person you can remember in your family as a child? What do you remember about them?
• Do you remember your family discussing world events and politics?
• Was there a chore you really hated doing as a child?
• What would you consider to be the most important inventions that have been made during your lifetime?
• How is the world now different from what it was like when you were a child?
• What kinds of books did you like to read?
• Do you remember having a favorite nursery rhyme or bedtime story? What was it?
• Do you ever remember not having enough food to eat because times were hard for your family?
• What were your favorite toys and what were they like?
• What were your favorite childhood games?
• What were your schools like?
• How did you get to school?
• What was your favorite subject in school and why?
• What subject in school was always the easiest for you?
• What was your least favorite subject in school and why?
• Who was your favorite teacher and why were they special?
• How do your fellow classmates from school remember you best?
• What school activities and sports did you participate in?
• Did you and your friends have a special hang-out where you liked to spend time?
Where was it and what did you do there?
• Were you ever given any special awards for your studies or school activities?
• How many years of education have you completed?
• Do you have a college degree? If so, what was your field of study?
• Did you get good grades?
• Did you like school?
• What did you like the most and the least about it?
• What did you usually wear to school? Describe it.
• Were there any fads during your youth that you remember vividly?
• How old were you when you started dating?
• Do you remember your first date? Describe the circumstances.
• Name a good friend that you have known for the longest period of time? How many years have you been friends?
• Has there ever been anyone in your life that you would consider to me your kindred spirit or soul mate?
If so, who were they and why did you feel a special bond to them?
• How did you meet the person that you would later marry? Describe them?
• Do you remember where you went on the first date with your spouse?
• How long did you know them before you got married?
• Describe your wedding proposal.
• When and where did you get married?
• Describe your wedding ceremony. Who was there?
• Did you have a honeymoon? If so, where did you go?
• How would you describe your spouse? What do (did) you admire most about them?
• How long have you been married (or were you married)?
• What wise advice would you give to a grandchild on their wedding day?
• How did you find out that you were going to be a parent for the first time?
• How many children did you have all together?
• What were their names, birthdates and birthplaces?
• Do you remember anything that your children did when they were small that really amazed you?
• What is one of the most unusual things that one of your children did regularly when they were small?
• What was the funniest thing you can remember that one of your children said or did?
• If you had it to do all over again, would you change the way you raised your family? How?
• What did you find most difficult about raising children?
• What did you find most rewarding about being a parent?
• Did you spoil any of your children? How?
• Were you a strict or lenient parent?
• Did you find that you had to treat each of your children differently? If so, why?
• How did you first hear that you were a grandparent and how did you feel about it?
• What advice do you have for your children and grandchildren?
• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
• What was your first job?
• What kinds of jobs have you had?
• How did you decide on your career?
• Did you make enough money to live comfortably?
• How long did you have to work each day at your job?
• How old were you when you retired?
• What were the hardest choices that you ever had to make? Do you feel like you made the right choices?
• Who was the person that had the most positive influence on your life? Who were they and what did they do?
• Is there a person that really changed the course of your life by something that they did?
Who were they and what did they do?
• Do you remember someone saying something to you that had a big impact on how you lived your life?
What was it?
• How would you describe yourself politically?
• Are you Conservative or Liberal and why?
• What wars have been fought during your lifetime? How did you feel about them?
• If you served in the military, when and where did you serve and what were your duties?
• If you served in the military, were you ever injured in the line of duty?
What were the circumstances and what were your injuries?
• What U.S. President have you admired the most and why?
• As you see it, what are the biggest problems that face our nation and how do you think they could be solved?
• How tall are you?
• What color was your hair as a young child and then as an adult?
• What color are your eyes?
• Where have you lived as an adult? List the places and the years that you lived there.
• Why are you living where you are today?
• Do you wish you lived somewhere else (If so, where would it be)?
• Describe your general health.
• What major illnesses or health problems do you remember having?
• Do you have any health problems that are considered hereditary in nature? If so, what are they?
• What do you do regularly for exercise?
• Do you have any bad habits now or in the past? What were they?
• Have you ever been the victim of a crime? What happened?
• Have you ever been in a serious accident?
• Has anyone ever saved your life? Describe.
• Have you ever saved anyone else’s life? Describe.
• Have you ever been hospitalized? If so, what for?
• Have you ever had surgery? If so, what for?
• If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
• Have you ever had an experience that you would consider to be super-natural or psychic? Did you ever know something was going to happen before it actually did? What was it?
• What do you usually dream about?
• What church, if any, do you attend regularly?
• Describe your religious beliefs.
• Do you believe in an after life?
• What was the most stressful experience that you ever lived through? What helped you get through it?
• What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you personally?
• What kinds of musical instrument(s) have you learned to play?
• Would you consider yourself creative?
• What things have you made that others have enjoyed?
• How would you describe your sense of humor?
• What is the funniest practical joke you ever played on anyone?
• What activities have you especially enjoyed as an adult?
• What are your hobbies?
• What did you like to do when you were not working?
• What is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to you?
• What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
• Have you ever met any famous people? Describe what happened.
• What organizations and groups have you belonged to?
• Have you ever won any special awards or prizes as an adult? What were they for?
• Describe a time and place when you remember feeling truly at peace and happy to be alive.
Where were you and what were you doing?
• What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited and what was it like?
• What is the longest trip that you have ever gone on? Where did you go?
• What has been your favorite vacation? Where did you go and why was it special?
• What was the favorite place you ever visited and what was it like?
• What pets have you had?
• Do you have a favorite story about a pet? What is it?
• Is there anything you have always wanted to do, but haven’t?
FAVORITES
• What is your favorite style of music?
• What is your favorite musical instrument?
• Who is your favorite musical group?
• What is your favorite song?
• Who is your favorite singer?
• Who is your favorite movie star?
• What is your favorite movie?
• Who is your favorite artist?
• What is your favorite painting?
• Who is your favorite poet?
• What is your favorite poem?
• What is your favorite TV program?
• Who is your favorite author?
• What is your favorite book?
• What is your favorite season?
• What is your favorite tree?
• What is your favorite flower?
• What is your favorite holiday?
• What is your favorite color?
• What is your favorite sport?
• Who is your favorite athlete?
• What is your favorite animal?
• What is your favorite meal?
• What is your favorite fruit?
• What is your favorite vegetable?
• What is your favorite candy?
• What is your favorite cookie?
• What is your favorite drink?
• What is your favorite restaurant?
• What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
• What is your favorite board game?
• What is your favorite card game?