Series: Oral History Project Process

Oral history is both a method of recording and preserving oral testimony and the product of that process. Oral history interviews are a collaborative endeavor, built on the trust and rapport that a narrator and interviewer develop. The preservation of oral history interviews and transcripts ensures that they are accessible for researchers and other users for years to come. These resources and case studies are a guide to an oral history project, from start to finish.

• Article 1: Designing a Project

  Where to start? Tips on refining your topic, assessing resources, and setting goals for your oral history project. Read more

• Article 2: Choosing Recording Equipment

  What are the appropriate recording techniques for your subject and situation? Read more

• Article 3: Considering Legal and Ethical Issues

  Important questions to address the legal and ethical topics involved in an oral history project. Read more

• Article 4: Interviewing

  Tools to prepare for the oral history interview, from preparation with the subject, to the list of questions, to the environment. Read more

• Article 5: Preservation and Access

  You have recorded an oral history interview. Now what? Considerations for transcribing and archiving oral histories. Read more

• Article 6: Using Oral History

  Notes and examples for using oral history interviews in preservation, interpretation, and more. Read more