Complete Oral History:
Audio or video recording
A complete transcript (initially in editable word doc, then .pdf)
A signed consent form (.pdf)
A complete oral history summary form
Outreach - Identify the interviewee and reach out to them for participation. Be clear about the nature of your project and what the ultimate outcomes may be.
Preliminary Interview – This is where you explain the nature of your project in greater detail and explain how oral history differs from a normal conversation (i.e. fewer audible acknowledgments to responses, note taking, and the presence of technology).
Biographical questionnaire and research- Provide the participant with a short questionnaire that will give you a starting point for your research. For example, when you show up for the actual interview you should be familiar with when and where they were born from a historical point of view. You should also research the topics you’ll be asking them about. This will help you guide the interview and spark follow-up questions.
Oral History Interview – The interviewer uses informed and open-ended questions to create a historical artifact that captures the experiences and knowledge of the interviewee regarding historical themes and topics. The interviewer should ask follow-up questions and explore details that might be useful to future researchers.
Transcription – The interviewer creates a verbatim transcript to accompany the recording. More on this below.
Archival storage – at least three copies of the recording and transcript are kept in three different places to ensure security.
Access – The final stage is for the oral history to be made available to researchers and the general public. This takes place via online repositories and digital exhibits.
We conduct our interviews using a portable audio recorder, the Zoom H4n Pro. We record at archival quality levels (96khz and 24 bit-rate) and save in the .wav file format. In addition, we use a retired cellphone as a backup recorder.
Be sure to become familiar with your equipment, maintain it, and test it before you start the interview. If you are conducting an interview remotely, make sure you test your internet connection with some preliminary meetings.
In addition to your technology your kit should include:
Notepad and pen for taking notes and creating a word list. A "word list" in oral history is a compiled list of words, phrases, and names that are specific to the interview or the subject matter being discussed. It's a resource for transcribers and editors to ensure accuracy and consistency in the transcript. If the interviewee uses specific jargon, you may ask them for clarification as you go along.
Drinks at the ready, so you don’t have to search for them if throats get dry.
Your opening statement: this should contain the names of the interviewer, interviewee, the date, the location, the project name, if there is one, and/or the general topic.
Oral histories may be conducted at the interviewee’s residence, place of work, or any location where the interviewee is comfortable. The most important thing is that the location is quiet and there is a minimal chance of interruption.
The desire for quiet isn’t just to ensure the quality of the recording, but it is also for the sake of the transcript. When a verbatim transcript is chosen each extra sound recorded will have to be accounted for and that can extend the time needed to produce the final product. This doesn't just apply for a squeaky ceiling fan, but also for any sounds the interviewer makes. We try to limit audible acknowledgements of the interviewee's responses.
Oral histories can vary in duration depending on the interviewee and the topic. They are considered long format interviews, so you should schedule at least an hour, but be prepared for longer and perhaps even multiple sessions. Be sure to keep pay attention to your interviewee for signs of fatigue and feel free to pause the recording at a convenient time to check in with them in case they need a break.
After the audio/video recording, the transcript is the second artifact produced by the oral history process. It is highly useful to researchers as it can be searched by keywords, and it provides a tangible resource for notation.
Depending on the length of the interview, transcripts can take hours or even days to complete. We generally produce a verbatim transcript, which is why we limit verbal acknowledgements to interviewee’s responses as these will add to the transcription time. Transcripts can be edited at the request of the interviewee to remove false starts.
For uniformity's sake, we suggest using a style guide to make sure your transcripts all meet the same standard.
Release forms are legally binding documents that explain the rights of the interviewee, interviewer, and those of the institution. The form should be explained so that the interviewee is comfortable signing it. In short, the form states that this interview and its transcript become part of our special collections and that it will be made available to researchers. The interview may be used in exhibits and make take many forms. Inform the interviewee that they too have rights and can impose certain restrictions. Below is an example of our release form.
An Oral History summary sheet should give archivists a good idea of what is in the interview and should help in the creation of metadata for cataloging and indexing. This will also help the interviewer sort and categorize their research. This form should include information such as: