Oral History


Oral history is an effective, low-cost method of collecting and documenting family, church and organizational history.  A minimum of supplies are required and most anyone can conduct a good interview.  Oral history interviews may be tape recorded or videotaped to add another element to the documentation.  Typed transcripts should also be prepared from tapes to protect the information from loss in the event of a tape becoming damaged.  What follows is an introduction to the subject of oral history and a bibliography for further reading.


Conducting the Interview

Important Hints

1.  Be patient: Don't let periods of silence force you to jump in with another question.  Give your narrator a chance to think about what he wants to say before you interrupt with the next question.  Try to judge when the narrator has stopped thinking, then ask the next question.


2.  Listen: Ask questions based on the answers, as well as questions based on the outline.


3.  Make a list of names, places, and unfamiliar words to aid the typist.  Jot down key words to remind you of questions you want to ask.


4.  Be flexible.  Some interviews will not allow strict adherence to the following hints.


    More Tips 

Supplies

Bibliography

 

 Archives Home