Family History Questions or Journal in a Jar Questions

Tell about any exciting experiences in scouting, etc.




Tell about your grandchildren_how many? Names?

How you feel about being a grandparent.



Describe your Sundays as a mother / father.



Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family as a child.

How did you decorate it? When did you put it up? etc.



What were your father's best traits? His worst? The traits you share.



Describe your wedding day.



Describe your first home as a young couple.



What games did you play in your home or neighborhood?



What was your most (really) embarrassing moment?



Tell about a favorite vocation from your childhood.



What is your secret for good health?



What are your food preferences and how did thy come about?



What personality trait do you admire most and why?



ONE WORD on how to live successfully.



Did you go to college or have vocational training? Where and when?



What were your fears, expectations and anticipations about getting married?



Describe a childhood Christmas.



What would you like to be remembered for?



How did you like being the oldest, youngest, or middle child?

What were the advantages and disadvantages?



Tell how, where and when you learned to drive. Any memorable experiences?



What do you think brings good or bad luck?



Tell about handed_down talents_foods, clothespin dolls, willow

whistles, pottery, quilting, whittling. meat drying. etc.



What Is your greatest jov? Your greatest sorrow?



What is the biggest lesson in life you found to be true?



Would you choose differently if you could choose your occupation

again? Why? How? Any advice?



Write about some places you went with your mother.



Write a want_ad that describes your husband/wife.



Describe your first "crush". What was she/he like?



Tell about each of your children births.( names, birth dates, where,

Dr., circumstances surrounding the birth, characteristics and differences)



Tell about each child. (raising them in your home, problems, joys, sorrows, accomplishments, etc..



Tell about the changes you’ve seen in your lifetime: society in

general, technology, fashion, fads, morality, politics. etc.



What is your child_rearing philosophy?



What lessons did you take as a child? Did any carry over into adulthood?



What is the most trying experience that ever happened to you?



Tell about anniversaries_ celebrations, gifts ,trips, etc.



Where did your grandparents live? What was their home like?

Did it have a certain smell or look?



What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you? The worst?



Describe your mothers wedding dress. What do you know about her wedding?



Did you receive your education somewhere other than school?



Have you met or worked with any famous people? Where? When?



What kind of extracurricular activities did you participate in in school?



Describe your conversion to the gospel.



Tell about home cures or old wives tales_hiccups, warts, toothaches, colds, earaches,

birth control, arthritis, etc.



Tell about your life as the children left home. New interests,

What did you do with the extra time, new employment, moves hobbles, etc.



Tell about your civic or political activities.



List each or your uncles and aunts and tell one thing about each of them.



Tell a courtship story about your parents, how they met, etc.



Tell a courtship story about yourself.



Did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents? Tell about It.



What is your favorite book? What do books mean to you?



Were you responsible for any household chores? What were they?

Which did you enjoy the most? The least?



Do you recall any outstanding family trips or summer holidays

you experienced as a child?



Describe the most serious illness you have had.



Describe the perfect spring day and activities done on the day.



What are you frightened of? Why?



What do you think about movies? What is your favorite movie and why?



Describe a childhood Christmas.



Were you ever in a drama, speech, sports, pep, or glee club, etc? Tell about it.



Write about some places you went with your mother.

Did you and your father share any interests? Tell about your relationship.



Tell about retirement: when, where, what will, or do you do with your time?



Tell about family reunions.



How did your mother spend her time?



Did you wish you had more sisters or brothers? Why?



What is your advice to those younger than you?



Tell about your favorite aunt.



How do you feel about death? Tell about your philosophy of

after_life. (If this is a tough one, skip it).



Do you remember any special feelings you had as a child? Fears,

fantasies, etc.? Describe your favorite dress outfit as a youth. etc.



What things do you enjoy doing today that you also enjoyed as a

child? Describe then and now differences etc..



How many brothers and sisters do you have? Describe them. Tell a

story about you and each of them.



What color was your house, your bedroom, your living room as a child?



What are your favorite colors, flowers, food, actives, hobbies?



What convinced you most in your choice of a spouse?



Describe a trip downtown as a youngster.



Describe the downtown of your childhood at Christmas time.



Tell about your teenage social life. Your friends dances, movies,

dating, outings, church functions, etc..



Thinking back, was there a teacher (s) or class that had a great influence on you?




Tell about religion practiced in your home_ faith promoting stories, etc.



Write your testimony of life ...marriage....



Where did you live as a child ? (city, country, suburb)



What special things did you do with your father?



Tell about all of the places you’ve worked.



Tell about the house(s) you lived in during your childhood. Do you

remember the addresses or phone numbers?



What do you feel has been the most significant world event that

has taken place during your lifetime and why?



Describe a typical school day as a child in elementary school.



Tell about your own family traditions, Christmas, Birthdays,

graduations, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, hunting,

funerals, Memorial Day, Mothers or Fathers' Day, weddings, etc..



What did you used to do as a child that got you into the most

trouble with your parents? How did they handle it?



Describe your yard (s) as a child. Did you help with yard

work? What are your memories? Draw a diagram if you can.



Tell something about each of your children, their personalities,

talents or traits that make them different and special.



Describe your wedding dress, bridesmaids ,dresses, etc...



Tell about any ancestors you know about. Dates, names, etc. for

historical purposes, and any stories about them.



Tell about a frustrating experience you've had with a car.



How do you feel about winning? Losing?



What are your most precious and deeply imbedded values?



What is your personal secret for happiness?

What is the most important lesson, message, or advice you've

learned that you'd like to pass on for others to profit by?



Describe a favorite childhood friend and some things you did with him or her.



Did you go camping? Tell about experiences doing it.



What service have you done? Which did you enjoy the most?



What do you fantasize about being or doing?



Where is the most exciting place you have ever been?



Did you have a bicycle? What was it like?



Where were you and what were you doing the day the Berlin wall came down

in East Germany or the day of the coop in the USSR?



What was a favorite place to go with your family when you were young?



What is your favorite scripture? Why?



How did you become engaged?



Did it snow where you lived as a child? What kinds of things did you do in it?



If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?



Tell about your favorite uncle.



How did you feel about school?



Describe a typical school day during your Jr. high years.



Did you have a childhood hideout? Where? Describe it.



Describe a favorite vacation in your married years.



Describe a childhood birthday.



Tell about a special date you had with a boy/ girl friend, your fiancé.



Describe a typical day during your High School years.

Did you have a favorite TV show as a child or youth? Describe It.



Do you remember any of your four grandparents? Any greats? What

were their names? Any memories you may have?



Do you have favorite author? Why? Who? Tell about favorite books

as a child, youth, adult.



Tell about your mother: personality, characteristics, stature,

coloring, talents, temperament, family stories about her, her role in your home etc..







What are the things you are most glad you tried?



What individuals have had the greatest impact on your life? How did they impact your life?



What did you do to celebrate birthdays when you were growing up?



What was your favorite meal when you were a child? What made it your favorite?



What was the name of your favorite pet? Why was it your favorite and why did you name it what you did?



What scent or sound immediately takes you back to childhood? Describe the feeling it evokes.



How far did you have to travel to attend elementary, Junior High, and High School? How did you get there?



What would be the most wonderful gift you could receive and why?



Where was your childhood home located? Did you enjoy living there?



Who gave you your name and why? Did you have a family nickname? How did you get it?



What was your favorite pastime as a child? Did you prefer doing it alone or with someone else?



What is your child philosophy?



Describe your mothers wedding day. What do you know about her wedding?


Did you serve in the military? If so, where and when? What do you remember about the experience?



What were your fears, expectations, anticipation, about getting married?



What are your most precious and deeply embedded values?



What do you fantasize about being or doing?



What special things did you do with your mother?



Have you met or worked with any famous people? Where, when, etc.



Tell about any exciting experiences in scouting, etc.



Tell about school, classes, activities, humorous situations, achievements.



What do you feel has been the most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime and why>



If you could be a tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?



Would you choose differently if you could choose your occupation again? Why? How? Any advice?



Tell about your mother, personality, characteristics, stature, coloring, talents, temperament, family stories about her, her role in the home, etc.



Describe the perfect summer day and what you would do on that day.



Do you like to go to the theater, the opera, the symphony, the ballet? Which do you like he best? Which production did you like the best and why? Describe your favorite outing to a performance.



Did you go on a mission? IF so, where and when? What do you most remember about it? Did you learn a foreign language?



What church calling did your parents have? What do you remember about their church callings?



Where you ever in the theater, symphony, debate or other performing groups? Describe your part in them.



Describe your yard as a child? Did you help with the yard work? What are your memories?



How old were you and your spouse when you were married? Describe yourselves, your plans, your hopes, etc at the time.



Tell about home cures for hiccups, warts, toothaches, colds, etc.



What was a favorite place to go with your family when you were young?



What games did you play in your house or neighborhood?



Did you work for money as a child? Describe jobs. Collecting bottles etc.



Tell about a fishing or hunting experience. Share a principle you have learned or one you’ve taught.



How many brothers and sisters do you have? What makes each of your brothers and sisters special? Be specific.



Tell about anniversaries (celebrations, gifts, trips, etc.)



Tell about each of your children’s names, birthdates, birthplaces, doctors, circumstances surrounding their birth, characteristics, differences, raising them, the homes of their youth etc.



Where were you and what were you doing the day President Kennedy was shot?



What does the mail mean to you? Are you a good letter writer? Who do you or have you corresponded with?



What kind of music do you like? Any memories associated with specific songs or music?



Tell about the favorite games you played as a child.



Describe a typical school day as a child in elementary school. Name teachers etc.



What special things did you do with your father?



How do you feel about death? Tell about your philosophy of the after life? Did you ever have a near death experience?



Where would you like to live most and why?



Where were you and what were you doing the day the first man landed on the moon?



How did your mother spend her time?



Did you wish you had more sisters or brothers? Why?



Tell about your life as the children left home. New interests, what you did with the extra time, new employment, moves, hobbies, etc.



What was your favorite Saturday activity as a child?



Tell about any interesting or important visitors to your home?



List each of your uncles and aunts and tell one thing about each of them.



Do you remember any funny family stories handed down about ancestors? Names? Jobs?



Describe your wedding day.


What is your personal secret for happiness?



Describe a trip downtown as a youngster.



Tell about a frustrating experience you’ve had with a car. Accidents, breakdowns etc.



What makes you feel good (occasions, food, person, etc)?



What is the most trying experience that ever happened to you?



Describe a favorite childhood friend and something you did with him/her.



What are some of your favorite smells and why?



Did you belong to girl or boy scouts or 4-H? Tell about it.



Describe a typical day in you jr. high school days.



Describe your cooking skills as a young married. Where down one of yours and your spouse’s favorite recipes and tell from where it came.



What do you remember about shopping with your mother? Any particular stores? What was your favorite store?



Tell about handed down talents (food, clothespin dolls, sewing, quilting, willow whistles, whittling etc.)



Write a want ad that describes your mother.



Did you and you father share any interests? Tell about your relationship with him.



What things do you enjoy today that you also enjoyed as a child? Describe “then” and “now” differences, similarities.



What was your most really embarrassing moment?



What is your favorite family place to go with your husband/wife and kids?



Describe the perfect winter day. Tell about an activity you would do on that day.



What is your favorite scripture and why?



Describe a typical day during high school years.



Did you go to college or trade school? What and where?



Did you have a favorite toy as a child? Did it have a name? What memories are connected with it?



Tell about the practice of religion in your home… faith promoting stories.



Are there any family heirlooms in your possession? Tell about them and how you came to acquire them.



Tell about any ancestors you know about, dates, names etc. For historical purposes and any stories about them.



Where do you like to eat out and what do you order?



If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?



What is your favorite animal and why?



What are you frightened of and why?



Did you have a bicycle? What was it like?



Where did your parents live when they were first married? Tell about other places they lived as well.



Tell about retirement. When, where, what, or will you do?



Do you have a favorite magazine? Describe it and the kinds of things you learn from it and enjoy about it.



Tell how you feel about water. Playing in it… using it… tell about the various bodies of water you have seen and an experience or feeling about each.



What did your father do for a living? How did he get to work? What time did he go and come home? Who did he work with or for? Did he have special training?



Tell about the houses you lived in during your childhood. Do you remember the addresses and phone numbers?



What convinced you most in you choice of a spouse?



Did you have a favorite subject in school? One you dreaded? Your best and worst grades?



Thinking back, was there a teacher or class that had a great influence on you?



How do you feel about dentists and why?



How do you feel about Dr.’s and why?



Tell about early romances, prior engagements and first loves.



How did you first meet your in-laws?



Do you recall any special even which took place on your block or in your neighborhood while you were growing up? Deaths, fires, accidents, etc?



Where did your grandparents live? What was their home like? Did it have a certain smell or look or feel?



What political party comes closest to representing your own point of view? How do you feel about politics? Did you ever run for an office? Hold an office? Help someone campaign?



Did you have a favorite TV show as a child or a youth? Describe it.



Tell about any condition surrounding your birth that you are aware of. Tell any interesting stories about your beginnings. How your name was chosen, any close calls etc.