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What are the best methods and sources for conducting oral history interviews?

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Oral history is a valuable and engaging method of historical research that involves interviewing people who have lived through or witnessed significant events, movements, or changes in the past. Oral history can enrich our understanding of history by capturing the voices, perspectives, and emotions of those who experienced it firsthand. However, oral history also poses some challenges and requires careful planning, preparation, and analysis. In this article, we will discuss some of the best methods and sources for conducting oral history interviews, as well as some tips and pitfalls to avoid.

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Identify key figures:

Review newspapers to spot knowledgeable individuals. This helps you find experts who can provide valuable insights and guide your oral history project effectively.### *Preserve descendant voices:Use oral history to document the experiences of descendant communities. This approach ensures their stories are captured while adhering to ethical practices, especially in sensitive contexts like historic sites related to slavery.

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1 Choosing your topic and research question

Before you start looking for potential interviewees, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn from them and why. Your topic and research question should be focused, relevant, and feasible. You should also consider the ethical and practical implications of your project, such as how you will obtain consent, protect confidentiality, and store and share your data. A good way to narrow down your topic and research question is to conduct a literature review and identify the gaps or controversies in the existing scholarship.

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Tonia Cansler-Merideth, M.A.

Oral Historian, Williamsburg Bray School
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At the Williamsburg Bray School Lab, we are using oral history to preserve the voices of the descendant community and to document the complex legacy of eighteenth-century Williamsburg where race, religion and education intersected. In doing so, we are cognizant of the trauma experienced by descendants whose ancestors are tied to a historic site or museum associated with slavery and adhere to a rubric of best practices for these communities.

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Dr. David M. Grabitske, DBA

Possibilitarian for the #HistoryEnterprise
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To prepare for a broader Hispanic oral history built on an earlier one focused solely on St. Paul, we reviewed newspapers statewide noting who appeared most knowledgeable about the subject. They were able to guide the project.

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Dr. David M. Grabitske, DBA

Possibilitarian for the #HistoryEnterprise
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We used oral history to conduct language preservation in two areas: indigenous languages (in this case Dakota) and regional dialects in American Sign Language (the Minnesota dialect). One of the wrinkles with language preservation is the otherwise undesirable urgency in conducting interviews to save as much language as possible to reestablish the language.

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2 Finding and contacting interviewees

Once you have your topic and research question, you need to find people who can provide relevant and reliable information and insights. You can use various sources to locate potential interviewees, such as archives, libraries, newspapers, websites, social media, organizations, or personal networks. You should aim for a diverse and representative sample of interviewees, but also be realistic about the availability and accessibility of your target population. When you contact interviewees, you should introduce yourself, explain the purpose and scope of your project, and ask for their consent and availability.

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Dr. David M. Grabitske, DBA

Possibilitarian for the #HistoryEnterprise
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We interviewed staff who exceeded 20 years on retirement to retain institutional knowledge. In this case identifying potential narrators became a function of HR.

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3 Preparing for the interview

Before you conduct the interview, you need to prepare a list of questions that will guide your conversation and elicit meaningful responses. You should avoid yes/no questions, leading questions, or complex questions that might confuse or intimidate your interviewee. Instead, you should use open-ended questions, follow-up questions, and probes that encourage your interviewee to elaborate, clarify, or illustrate their answers. You should also do some background research on your interviewee and their context, and familiarize yourself with the technical aspects of recording and transcribing the interview.

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4 Conducting the interview

During the interview, you need to establish rapport, trust, and respect with your interviewee, and create a comfortable and conducive environment for them to share their stories. You should follow your list of questions, but also be flexible and responsive to your interviewee's cues and interests. You should listen attentively, actively, and empathetically, and avoid interrupting, judging, or arguing with your interviewee. You should also monitor the quality and duration of the recording, and thank your interviewee for their time and cooperation.

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5 Analyzing and interpreting the interview

After the interview, you need to transcribe, annotate, and organize your data, and check for accuracy and completeness. You should also reflect on your own role and positionality as a researcher, and how they might have influenced the interview process and outcome. You should then analyze and interpret your data, using appropriate methods and frameworks that suit your research question and goals. You should look for patterns, themes, contradictions, and silences in your data, and compare and contrast them with other sources and perspectives.

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Dr. David M. Grabitske, DBA

Possibilitarian for the #HistoryEnterprise
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As a part of transcription and annotation, the interviewee always has a chance to amend, restrict for a time, or clarify the text.

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6 Writing and presenting the interview

The final step of oral history research is to write and present your findings and arguments, using your data as evidence and illustration. You should acknowledge the limitations and challenges of oral history as a source, and address any ethical or legal issues that might arise from using it. You should also cite your data properly, and respect the rights and wishes of your interviewees regarding the use and dissemination of their information. You should aim to write and present your oral history research in a clear, engaging, and respectful way that honors the voices and experiences of your interviewees.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Dr. David M. Grabitske, DBA

Possibilitarian for the #HistoryEnterprise
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Contact your State Historic Records Advisory Board (known as SHRAB) as every state has one. SHRABs are the local affiliate of the National Historic Publication and Records Commission (NHPRC).

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What are the best methods and sources for conducting oral history interviews?

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1 Choosing your topic and research question

2 Finding and contacting interviewees

3 Preparing for the interview

4 Conducting the interview

5 Analyzing and interpreting the interview

6 Writing and presenting the interview

7 Here’s what else to consider

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