Oral History Handbook

A release form is a formal agreement between the interviewer, narrator, and archive establishing the intellectual property rights to the oral history. The agreement also formalizes the narrator's consent to participate in the oral history project. The agreements establish how the recording can be used and by whom. Common examples include Creative Common licenses, deeds of gift, nonexclusive licenses, permission-to-use agreements, and transfer of copyright.

Informed consent is agreement that documents, verbally or in writing, that the narrator has been given all the information necessary to come to a decision about whether to participate in the oral history project. Informed consent does not cover or deal with copyright. The interview process must be transparent, with ongoing participation, consent, engagement, and open discussion among all parties, from the first encounter between interviewer and narrator to the creation of end products. Informed consent plays a key role in ensuring transparency.

Some archives will combine informed consent and copyright releases into a single agreement. It can also be helpful to ask the narrator at the beginning of a recorded interview, "Do I have your permission to record this interview?" Their verbal confirmation is another helpful way to document their consent. 

In all aspects of oral history creation, it is important to be clear and transparent with your narrators about the purpose of the oral history project and how their interview will be use in the future.

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

What are IRBs?

These are reviews by the Federal Institutional Review Board (IRB) to protect human subjects of research. IRBs need to be completed before research begins to ensure the project will protect human subjects in the research process.

When can you skip the IRB review?

Most oral histories do not require an IRB review. Oral history projects that focus solely on specific individuals and their personal experiences typically do not meet the federal definition of research as outlined in 45 CFR 46.102(I) because they are not designed to develop generalizable knowledge. Such projects do not require IRB review.

When do you need an IRB review?

Oral history projects that seek to draw broader conclusions, inform policy, or contribute to generalizable knowledge—particularly when collecting information from multiple individuals within an identifiable group—may be considered human research. In these cases, the project would be subject to IRB review and could qualify for Expedited Category 7 if it involves interviews, surveys, or focus groups where the risk to participants is minimal.

If you are unsure whether your project is subject to an IRB Review, contact the MSU IRB Office.

IRBs and Tribal Members

Research conducted on reservations or involving tribal members must be reviewed by the appropriate Tribal IRB or governance structure unless there is specific documentation allowing MSU to be the IRB of record.

Not all oral histories conducted with tribal members are considered research. If an oral history project focuses solely on individual experiences and is not intended to contribute to generalizable knowledge, it would typically not require IRB review.

Many tribal communities, however, have additional ethical considerations and review processes beyond federal regulations. We strongly encourage researchers to engage with tribal leadership or local Tribal IRBs to ensure they are meeting community expectations, even if the project is not classified as human subjects research.