How to do Oral History
Download PDF versions of the Heritage Notes at the Community Development website:
Heritage Notes #11 (pdf)
Judy Larmour
Oral history is not new; historians
have always interviewed people. What is new is the
technology used to preserve these conversations. Compact
and easy to use cassette tape recorders have made oral
history a popular research method among local history
societies and many other groups for a wide range of
history projects. Be cautioned, however, that oral
history projects are no different than any other
research project, and must have a clear purpose,
methodology, and organization. A good deal of careful
preparation is required to carry out a successful
interview. It will require a major commitment on the
part of a volunteer group to see the process through.
Oral history projects are challenging and hard work, but
they can be fun and the results well worth the effort.
This Heritage Note will lead you
through the various phases of an oral history project.
It identifies some of the questions you should ask
yourselves, and provides concrete recommendations and
examples to assist you. Following the steps outlined in
this Heritage Note will help to ensure that your oral
history project is worthwhile.
Contained in this Heritage Note:
- What Oral History Is and What It Is Not
- Some Questions to Ask Yourselves at the Very Beginning
- The Ethics of Oral History
- Setting Up the Project
- Research and Preparation for Interviews
- Interviewing
- Follow Up Work
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