Oral History Handbook

Once you have selected your narrator, it is important to speak with them (by phone, video chat, or in person) before the interview to make arrangements and to explain the process of creating an oral history.

These initial conversations should describe the oral history process and provide them with an understanding of the project to allow them to provide their informed consent and participation in the project. The pre-interview discussion can also assist in the interviewer’s preparation for the questions they will ask in the official interview. The goal of these initial meetings is to establish rapport between interviewer and narrator, allow the narrator to ask any questions, and provide clear expectations about how their oral history will be used and accessed by people in the future.

In the initial conversation with narrators be sure to discuss:

1. A date, time, and location for the narrator to meet. This should be a location where the narrator feels comfortable and that is free of background noise. Be sure to get clear directions.
2. The purpose of the oral history in terms of topics that will be discussed and the research questions of the project.
3. Explain how the recordings will be used for your project. If you plan to donate the recordings to a library, be specific about how the library will be providing access to the recording and how it might be used by library patrons.
4. The full oral history procedure, including when and how the interview will be recorded, the editing process, and the narrator’s rights as an oral history subject.
5. Explain to the narrator that they will be required to sign a release form. This is for their protection as well as the institution or individual conducting the interview. Most historians and historical institutions will not accept interviews without release forms to protect against libel and copyright concerns.
6. Explain that MSU does not restrict access to oral histories and does not allow interviewees to edit recordings or transcripts, and what access to their oral history will look like at MSU, including online access. This helps set clear expectations about how their interview will be used and made accessible to library users.
7. The narrator’s expectations for the oral history—what they want to get out of the process, what topics are meaningful to them, and what questions they think should be asked.

Invite them to review the outline, personal letters, photographs, scrapbooks, clippings or mementos that might stimulate memories before the interview, or even to bring some of those materials to the interview

In preparation for your interview, create an outline to guide the conversation. Preliminary research should naturally lead to a list of topics that interviewers should craft into a project outline. It’s important to create this outline as a roadmap, without creating too rigid of a structure, understanding that the flow of conversation in an oral history interview may shift from one topic to another. Usually, an outline should be organized chronologically, though this may vary by project or topic.

Outlines should follow this basic format:

1. Name of narrator, date, and location of interview
2. Biographical information about the interviewee - their family history, education, hometown, etc.
3. Questions based on your topic - arranged chronologically
4. A final illustrative story or summary to close out the interview

Set up and Communication

When you arrive for your interview, you will need to take some time to set up equipment and find the best recording location. Use this as an opportunity to get to know your narrator and engage them in conversation. In most cases, it is best to meet your narrator in their home or a space that is comfortable for them.

Find a quiet and well-lit (for video) space without distractions to conduct your interview. Don’t ignore your narrator as you are setting up your equipment. Make polite conversation and use this time to chat with them about the goals of the oral history project.

Release Forms

Before recording begins, be sure to describe the oral history process with the narrator. This is an ideal time to have them sign the release form. Walk your narrator through the terms of the agreement. Be sure to describe what rights the agreement gives them as the participant, and what rights the agreement gives the archive for providing access to future researcher. For example, if the archive intends to provide unrestricted online access to the oral history, explain this to your narrator.

When you are ready to begin the interview rely on your outline to guide the discussion. Also keep the following tips in mind throughout the interview process:

1. Start each interview by introducing the narrator. State the date and location of the interview and the name of the narrator before asking any questions.
2. It is good practice to start with a biographical question to document basic information about your narrator.
3. Ask one question at a time and allow the narrator to complete their answers before asking the next question.
4. Try to keep your questions brief and concise.
5. Ask open-ended questions and follow-ups for clarifications and examples.
6. Be sure to have the 6 basics questions answered about each topic—who did what, when, where, why, and how?
   1. Ask clarifying questions to establish date and place. For example: “That was in 2002, correct?” or “Do you remember where that took place?”
7. Do not interrupt the narrator during the story. If you have a follow-up question or need clarification on spellings, write your question down and ask later. “You mentioned earlier…”
8. Show interest through nonverbal cues such as nodding the head or smiling. Try to avoid saying, “Uh-huh” or “right” as they clutter the recording. It may be helpful to let the narrator know at the start of the interview that you will try to remain silent except when asking questions.
9. Write down questions as they arise in the interview. Wait until the narrator has completed their story before asking for clarification or a follow-up question.
10. Avoid asking leading questions--“Tell me about the kinds of discrimination you encountered” Instead use “Has discrimination been an issue in your life?”
11. Ask open-ended questions that require the interviewee to give their opinion. Closed questions require a “yes” or “no” or have a predetermined answer. Some key phrases to use are “Please explain,” “Discuss,” or “Describe.”
12. Do not worry about silences. Let the interviewee collect their thoughts at their own pace. Long pauses can be edited out after the interview.
13. Be aware of the physical condition of your interviewee. They will give physical cues of fatigue. If the narrator looks tired or fatigued, suggest a break.

End the interview with an invitation for the narrator to tell their favorite story or give a summation-- “We’ve covered a lot of ground today. Is there anything I should have asked?” “Is there any topic you would like to return to?”

Good record keeping is essential to capturing necessary information about your narrator and the interview. These notes will make it easier to create the final metadata included with the oral history when it is sent to the archives.

In a notebook or in the Field Notes Worksheet record the following information about the interview:

• Narrator
• Interviewer
• Date
• Location
• Name of Collection (if known)
• Length of Interview
• Notes about the interview (try to be as detailed as possible)

As the interview progresses be sure to jot down the following information as it comes up in conversation. This will make it easier to edit your transcripts when you prepare your oral history for the archives:

• People's names - first and last
• Places
• Significant events