Questionnaire

 Below is an interview form used by historical survey members in the 1940’s to interview members of the community whose ages ranged from mid-70’s to late 80’s. With modifications this could be used today to interview people who have spent their lives in the area that is now included in the Greenwood School District to provide valuable information about the area during the Dust Bowl, Depression, World I and II, Korean War and other major events.

 Early Settlers’ Personal History Questionnaire

  1. Early settler’s name.
  2. Address.
  3. Present occupation (most are now retired).
  4. Previous occupation or occupations
  5. Date of birth
  6. Place of birth
  7. Married? To whom? When? Where?
  8. If an immigrant, give particulars. City and county of derivation, name of ship on which arrived, etc.
  9. How long has the individual resided in Arkansas?
  10. If not a native, tell  of the voyage to Arkansas. Boat? Wagon train, etc.
  11. Why did individuals come to Arkansas?
  12. Get details of construction of early homes.
  13. What form of lighting was used in the early days?
  14. When were electric lights first used in your community?
  15. What kind of fuel was used?
  16. What kinds of food did the early settlers have? Were fish and game depended upon for the meat supply? Was game plentiful? What kinds?
  17. What kinds of clothes were worn and how were they manufactured?
  18. Were there any interesting customs or incidents connected with early courtships?
  19. Compare some early food, clothing,  etc. prices with those today.
  20. What were some of the incidents pertaining to sharing of food and other supplies in times of common need?
  21. What were some early cultivated crops? Domesticated animals?
  22. What were early farm implements? Any homemade? If purchased – Where? Prices?
  23. What were early industries in the community?
  24. What were some native plants used for food or for flower gardens?
  25. Relate interesting incidents of early days. Tell of childhood impressions and memories. Tell of group activities. Tell any experiences relating to Indians, their customs and habits.
  26. Tell of early methods of combating forest fires, town or building fires.
  27. Get origin of place and thing names such as hills, valleys, rivers, sloughs, bayous, animals, etc.
  28. Tell of early taverns, hotels, boarding houses, stagecoach stations, boat landings, etc.
  29. Tell of early schools
  30. Location of school? Late?
  31. Name of teacher?
  32. How were funds provided? Tuition? How much? Was payment made in kind?
  33. What schoolbooks were used? Title? Author?
  34. What constituted the reading matter of early settlers? Books? Magazines? Newspapers? Get titles and authors.
  35. Where was the first telegraph station in the community? When established?
  36. Tell of the early “horse cars”. When were the trolley cars substituted? When busses?
  37. When and where was the first automobile seen?
  38. When and where was the first train seen?
  39. When and where was the first airplane seen?
  40. When did automotives busses begin interurban operation?
  41. Early theatrical performances? Local people? Traveling stock companies?
  42. Tell of any important local celebration in memory of any individual or event.
  43. Does the individual recall any early historical character?
  44. Tell of any duels. Where were they fought? By whom? Why?
  45. Tell of any feuds. Who was involved? Where? Why?
  46. Tell of any early tombstone inscriptions? Where?
  47. Tell of any bank robberies, stagecoach holdups, executions of horse thieves or other impromptu executions, including lynchings. Give details.
  48. Tell of Civil War days, giving the fullest detail possible.
  49. Tell of any battles, skirmishes, forays, etc. witnessed.
  50. Tell of Reconstruction, the Carpetbaggers, Scalawags, etc.
  51. Get all information possible regarding the original Ku Klux Klan or similar organizations.
  52. Tell of any participation in the establishment of any religious or fraternal organizations.
  53. Tell of any military affiliations.
  54. Tell of any Indian mounds, cliff dwellings, caves, etc. that might be recalled. Get accurate information regarding artifacts.
  55. Tell of any other historic sites.
  56. What is the total number of descendants?
  57. What are the names and addresses of sons and daughters?
  58. Name grandchildren and great grandchildren, if any.
  59. Tell of any books, diaries, journals, sketches, or newspaper articles the individual has written.

 The above questionnaire is intended solely as a skeleton outline to assist the interviewer in giving his subject leads. It is improbable that any one individual can answer all the questions fully, but it is advisable to ask them all anyway. Record the answers on plain paper numbering the answers to correspond with the above questions, if possible.

AT THE TOP OF THE PAPER ON WHICH YOU RECORD THE ANSWERS BE CERTAIN TO PUT YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, DATE AND REFER TO ARKANSAS HRS FORM J.

 Do not limit yourself to the above questions. If the subject goes off on any tangent, follow it to see if it is of historical interest. Remember get Who?, What?, When?, Where?, How?, and Why? on every possible question. As regards to matters of location, such as Indian sites, early buildings, tombstones, etc. be as definite and detailed as possible. Give pertinent data (i.e. whether or not buildings are now occupied and if so by what or whom, and in either case, in what state of preservation and repair.