Capturing an Oral History

Oral histories help us to understand people and communities, giving personal and cultural context to history. Capturing an oral history is not difficult as long as you prepare for the interview in advance.

Preparing for the Interview

• The interviewing team should have adequate background knowledge, as the interviewee will give responses that will lead to new questions and give new information and insights.
• Student interviewers should know the context for terms, events, and people linked to the social and historical events being explored.
• Questions should be generated in advance.
• It is always a good idea to conduct a practice interview ahead of time.

Arranging the Interview

• Contact the potential interviewee both in writing and over the phone to establish a rapport that is open and caring.
• Describe the purpose of the project and make it clear to the interviewee why he or she is of value and interest to the students.
• Ask the interviewee to provide any related photos, journals, or other artifacts that s/he may have; these can help to stimulate memories and lead to more insights.
• Give specific examples of typical questions that will be asked and provide the final list of questions prior to the interview to allow the interviewee to reflect and prepare.

Interview Equipment

• Get familiar with all features and controls of the audio and/or video equipment. Test all equipment prior to the interview and again after setting up at the interview location.
• Try to use natural light as much as possible.
• Be sure to have back-up batteries for all equipment and extra tapes or storage.
• Use a ninety-minute tape to record a thirty-minute interview.
• Use multiple cameras if you wish to film the interviewers and interviewee.

Setting Up at the Interview Location

• Select a location convenient to the interviewee.
• Select a quiet spot – try to record away from external noise (air conditioner vents, cell phones, etc.).
• Use an external microphone or lip-on microphone, if possible, and encourage all individuals involved in the recording to speak up.
• Locate and focus cameras to capture a full frontal image (head and shoulder shot) of the interviewee.

The Interview Process

• The principal interviewer should state on tape the name of the project, the location and date of the interview, and the name of the interviewee and the interviewer(s). (You may refer to the interview team collectively — i.e. the seventh-grade students at ABC School.)
• The interviewer(s)should stimulate the interviewee’s narrative by asking for details and examples or posing intelligent follow-up questions when appropriate.
• The interviewer(s) should be sure to let the interviewee’s finish his/her narrative before shifting to new questions.

Interviewing Tips

• Provide the interviewee a biographical data form to gain basic information about the individual.
• Research the background of the interviewee and the events the person experienced.
• Consider providing the interviewee with a list of questions in advance. This can help the person to prepare his/her thoughts, ideas, and stories.
• Hold a practice interview; if possible, try to incorporate follow-up questions when appropriate.
• Create questions that will require detailed answers and avoid questions that require only a Yes or No responses.
• Be sure that the questions cover the five Ws and the H (who, what, when, where, why and how).
• Break your questions up into topics, which will help the interviewee to remember experiences; a scattered approach to questioning can confuse both the interviewee and the interviewer(s).
• Make sure the first few questions are easy, to help “warm up” the interviewee as well as the interviewer(s).
• The interviewer(s) should maintain eye contact with the interviewee and demonstrate active listening skills (nods of encouragement, smiles, attentive body posture); interest in the interviewee’s story should be apparent.
• Be sure to give the interviewer time to answer each question fully.
• Be sure to give the interviewee enough time to tell her/his story, but don’t wear her/him out.
• Appreciation should be expressed as the interviewer(s) exit and a written thank-you note should be sent to the interviewee within one week following the interview.
• Offer to share the interview video or audio recording with the interviewee.

Oral History Interview Checklist

• Is the interview environment free of anticipated distractions?
• Has the proper introductory information been included?
• Does the interview start with the interviewee providing a brief biographical sketch?
• Has the interview team:
• asked clear, singular questions?
• avoided asking leading questions?
• asked questions that elicit extended answers?
• avoided making biased comments?
• demonstrated a good knowledge of the subject?
• allowed the interviewee time to think and respond?
• avoided interrupting the interviewee?

Be sure to check out these other PSN posts related to oral history too!

Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Oral Histories

Oral History & Personal Narrative Collections