Ask permission
Explain whether you want to take notes or record and who will receive a copy. Let the speaker skip topics or stop. Permission to have a conversation does not automatically mean permission to publish it.
Start with an ordinary place
Ask about a kitchen, school journey or first job. Follow details the speaker chooses instead of a rigid questionnaire. If a date is uncertain, ask what other event helps place the memory in time.
Return a copy
Label the conversation with participants and date. Invite corrections to names and restrictions on passages before sharing. Keep later research notes separate from the speaker’s words so the original account remains clear.
Further reading
For source material and collection context, visit US National Archives: family research. Check the collection’s own scope and access instructions before relying on it.