Oral History Guidelines
Oral history is best used to supplement other sources in historical research. It may help you to understand the "spirit" of a particular age, to get a personal impression of an event or an important person, to find the unique--the person who is different.
Prepare.
Decide on a topic or a specific time period and choose a person to interview, preferably one who has had some firsthand experiences and can reflect on them.
Contact the person, and make an appointment. Be clear about time and place. State the purpose of the interview.
Do some background reading on the topic. Write down and arrange your questions. Keep most of your questions broad. Follow-up questions may be specific. Avoid questions that can be answered "yes" or "no." Keep your questions neutral. If you record the interview, make sure your equipment is working properly and that you know how to operate it. Ask permission of the person you are interviewing.
Conduct the Interview
Arrive on time. Explain the purpose of the interview.
Be courteous, listen carefully, don't rush the interviewee, don't argue.
Take notes, even if you are tape recording, being sure to get correct spelling of names and places. If you ask a controversial question, ask it toward the end of the interview, when the person is becoming comfortable talking to you.
Examine and Evaluate
Transcribe the interview or take note cards from the interview as soon as possible. Write your report; let the interviewee see it.
What did you learn about your topic?
Was the interviewee a reliable source? Did the interviewee have difficulty remembering names, dates, places? Is the factual information correct? Can you corroborate the information in another source?
References
OAH Magazine of History,
Summer 1990: 57.
Wheeler, William Bruce, and Susan D. Becker.
Discovering the American Past: A look at the
Evidence.
2nd ed.. Vol. II. Boston: Houghton, 1990. 181-86.
Oral History
