Conducting an Oral History Interview

            Last post I talked briefly about the technological changes in the recording oral history interviews.  As I mentioned this was a part of a program on oral histories sponsored by the Society of American Archivists and held at the University of Texas at Dallas.  The remainder of the program dealt with suggestions for conducting a good interview.  First and most important is articulation of a clear goal or purpose for the interview.  What do you want to learn and record from the individual you will be interviewing?  It could be learning about their family history, their experiences say in World War II, their experiences within a specific organization, whatever.  Once you’ve determined a goal for the interview then it’s time to do some homework.  Read about the topic.   What is the early history of an area, what are stories from a war or of a company? Homework is important.

            After you have some idea of what you want to know about and have done your homework about the subject then it’s time to list some questions related to the topic.  This will facilitate the interview and help you to clarify your own thinking.  Find out about the person you are interviewing and try to establish some rapport when you set up for the interview.  Sometimes people are nervous in front of a microphone so a comfortable relationship between the interviewer and interviewee is important.  Be sure you are familiar with your recording equipment and that it is working properly (take backups of memory cards and connections). Begin with an introduction including who will be interviewed and by whom, when, where.  The presenter also always asks for the interviewee’s birth date and includes that in the introduction.  He says he records this introductory information even before he gets to the interview. 

            Remember you are there to facilitate the interview not to dominate it. Don’t interrupt the interviewee.  Do ask open-ended questions. Do steer the conversation back if the interviewee wanders away from the topic. 

            Get a signed release form that includes digitization.  Be prepared.  Watch the “ums” and “ahs” or other annoying speech habits you may have.  They are most irritating for the listener, particularly a transcriber like me.

Have fun and learn lots.