Sample Questions for a Community Oral History Interview

These questions represent the type of questions that could be asked during an oral history interview about Darien.  The interviewer does not have to ask every question, nor does an interviewee have to answer every question.  You are free to ask questions that you come up with yourself, or that come up as a natural part of your conversation. This list can be considered as a guide, and you can ask as many or a few questions from it as the interviewer and interviewee feel comfortable with.  The purpose is to tell the story of our community, as seen through the eyes of residents.    

•    What is your name?
•    When did you move to Darien and what part did you live in? or What year were you born and where did you first live in Darien?
•    How did your family come to live in Darien?  How many generations of your family have lived here?
•    What was your house (or apartment) like? How many rooms? Bathrooms? Did it have electricity? Indoor plumbing?  Telephones?
•    What were your neighbors like?
•    What was the town like at that time? Or What were your first impressions?
•    What is your earliest memory of being in Darien?
•    Can you describe what Darien was like in your earliest memories?
•    Growing up/as you have lived here, what have been your strongest memories of your time here?
•    What fads or clothing styles stand out in your memory?
•    What do you think is the most positive change in Darien in the time you have been here?
•    Do you remember celebrating any holidays with community or religious events?  Were there parades, celebrations or community gatherings?  What kind?  What were they like?
•    What kinds of food did you eat on special holidays in your home?
•    What kinds of things did you do for fun when you first came to Darien/growing up?
•    Did you and your friends have a special hang-out spot in town?  What made you choose it? What did you do there?
•    Were there any town landmarks or buildings that stand out in your memory?  Have they changed over time?
•    What style of music was popular when you were growing up/first came to Darien?  Did you go to see live music, and if so, where?
•    Where would you have gone on a date, or out for a special evening?
•    What vivid memories do you have about something you and your wife/husband/partner did together in Darien when you were younger?
•    What would you have done on a weekend or for a vacation?
•    What is/was your profession?
•    What made you choose to work in that field?
•    How did you learn your trade or profession?
•    Did you work in Darien itself?
•    What kinds of businesses were there in Darien at the time?
•    What businesses do you remember opening that were really anticipated? Or a business closing that was really mourned?
•    What major political or historical events do you remember during your time in Darien?
•    How do you remember the historical/political events that took place?  How did they change the community or your daily life?
•    How did your family or friends talk about politics?  Was there an issue over the years that you remember dividing your community?   What about an issue or event that really brought people together?
•    Have you belonged to any organizations or groups in Darien?  What kind of things did you do, and why was it important to you?
•    What do you think is the biggest change between when you first came to Darien/when you were a child and now
•    What is the one thing about life in Darien that you think people would be most interested in, or surprised to hear?
•    Are there any last thoughts or memories that you would like to share?


School (for people who grew up here):
If you grew up in Darien, what school did you go to? 
What was your school like?
How did you get to school?
What subjects did you take?
Do you have any memories of your teachers?  Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
What is your strongest memory of your time at school?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
How many people were in your school in grade school?  In high school?
Did you participate in any school activities or sports? 
Do you have any memorable moments from watching sports at school?

Children (for people who had children while in Darien):
Do you have children?
Did they grow up in Darien?
When your children were young, what did they do for fun?
Was there a special place you would have taken them for an outing?
Do you think school changed a lot between when you were in school and when your children were?
Do you have a memory about something you and your children would do in the community that you would like to share?

Family (for longstanding Darien families):
Do you know who the first member of your family to move to Darien was?
When?
Where did they come from?
What kind of work have the people in your family done through the generations?
When you were growing up, who was the oldest member of your family?
Did they ever tell you about what their life was like growing up in Darien?  If so, what did they say?
Do you remember any stories about Darien that older members of your family told?
What has made Darien a place to call home for your family?