We all have stories to tell, stories we have lived from the inside out. Oral history captures living people's stories about their own experiences. The memories of everyday people, not just the rich and famous, have historical importance. If we do not collect and preserve those memories and stories, then one day they will disappear forever. Your stories and the stories of the people around you are unique, valuable treasures for your family and your community. [Adapted from http://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/oralHistory.html]
For the Family and Community Archives Project (FCAP) you will interview at least one person to learn more about your own family history, or the history of an organization or institution that interests you. Oral history interviews require advance thinking and preparation; below are tips for you to help you plan your interview. Examples of oral history interviews that others have done are also posted below.
Interview Preparation
1. Choose the person you want to interview and identify a quiet location for the interview.
2. For family history, collect and record personal data about your interviewee:
A. When/where born
B. Names of parents, spouses, siblings, children
C. Places lived
D. Education
E. Work history
F. Memberships in organizations
G. Military service (dates, branch of armed forces)
3. For organizational/institutional history, collect and record background data about the organization:
A. When founded and where
B. Who founded
C. Why founded
D. How funded
E. Why it closed or went out of existence (if applicable)
4. Develop a list of topics you want your interviewee to talk about
5. Test any recording equipment before interview
During the Interview
- Be a good listener, using body language such as looking at the interviewee, nodding, and smiling to encourage and give the message, "I am interested." If necessary, use verbal encouragement such as "This is wonderful information" or "How interesting." Be careful not to speak while they are speaking to ensure that all of their words are clearly captured.
- Ask for specific examples if the interviewee makes a general statement
and you need to know more. You might say, “could you give me more detail,” or “tell me a little more about that.” [Adapted from http://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/oralHistory.html]
Capturing the Interview (choose one of the following methods):
- Use a digital camera if it has video/audio capture capability.
- Use a digital recorder.
- Use a tape recorder.
- Take notes during interview and review them carefully as soon as the interview is finished.
Sample Topics or Questions for Your Interviewee (Family History)
- Anything of interest from his/her personal data (you might want to know more about his/her military service; how he/she ended up in New Haven if they were not born here; or how he/she met their spouse)
- Family origins: where did his/her (your) family come from? If they came from another country, when and how?
- Childhood: what does he/she remember about growing up; what does he/she remember about their schools?
- Careers: how did he/she choose their job/profession?
- Achievements: what does he/she consider their most important accomplishment; what is he/she most proud of; how would he/she like to be remembered?
- Family records: does he/she know of any materials that document the family’s history, such as letters, diaries, or photographs, which he/she could tell you about?
- Is there something about themselves that he/she thinks no one knows but he/she wants others to know?
Sample Topics or Questions for Your Interviewee (Organizational History)
- Anything of interest from the background data (you might be interested in learning as much as you can about the founders or about how the organization got money to do its work)
- Change: is the organization different today than when it was founded?
- Goals: what are the organization’s major accomplishments?
- Difficulties: what challenges has the organization faced in its history?
- Future: what does he/she think the organization will be like in ten years?
As you ask the questions, he/she might give you answers that interest you so much that you want to take the interview in a direction other than what you planned. That is fine. Every now then, check your list of questions/topics that you haven’t covered, just to see if there are really important ones you want to include in the interview.
If you need any help planning the interview or coming up with questions, post a message to the blog <http://fcap2.blogspot.com/> and an archivist will help you.
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