Oral History

Tips for recording your interview

There are many recorder options that will record an uncompressed preservation quality audio file. If you do not have access to a recorder, most smartphones have recording software that will record an MP3 audio file.

• If possible, record an uncompressed WAV audio file at 24 bit.
• Use external microphones if possible.
• Check room for extraneous noise such as motors, fans, pets, traffic, etc.
• Test the recorder to check the volume of the interviewer and interviewee and to see if it is picking up any static or surrounding noise.
• Upload the files from the recorder to your computer, external hard drive and/or the cloud to ensure you don’t lose the file.
• Name the file in a way you can identify it later. Ex: LastnameFirstname_Date_Interview#_File#
• Make copies of your digital file. Save a copy to an external hard drive and/or the cloud.

Software available for students (via OIT)

     Adobe Creative Cloud

• Adobe creative cloud is now $25 annually to install on a personal computer
• Sign in to purchase at csustan.onthehub.com, click the Students tab and select Adobe

     VoiceThread

• VoiceThread is a tool for creating online presentations taken from a variety of file formats (e.g., PowerPoint, PDF, audio, video, image, Word).
• Stan State has a site license for all students to use this tool without a fee.  Click "Sign in" at https://csustan.voicethread.com to get started.

     Zoom

• Zoom is the university's online meeting and video conference tool with Pro accounts for all users.

Audio recording/editing Apps

Audacity – Audacity is a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems

BandLab – is a social music platform that enables creators to make music and share the creative process with musicians and fans. BandLab combines music making and collaboration tools like the world’s first cross-platform DAW, with social features like video sharing, messaging and discovery. Available for Free for Android and iOS.

Video recording/editing Apps

iMovie – Record, edit, and add design elements to your videos. Available for free, iOS devices only.

InShot Video Editor & Maker – free video recorder and editor. Offers basic and advanced editing tools, as well as filters and music/audio effects. Available for Android and iOS.

Online File Converters

Zamzar - Free file conversion website. Allows users to convert files without downloading a software tool, and supports over 1,200 different conversion types.

Cloudconvert - CloudConvert is an online file converter. We support nearly all audio, video, document, ebook, archive, image, spreadsheet, and presentation formats.

Other Tech available from the Library

Joby GorillaPod Flexible Tripod - universal smartphone tripods available for check-out from the library. Visit the library circulation desk for more information. 

References

Smithsonian Institution Archives. (2022, May 13). How to Do Oral History. https://siarchives.si.edu/history/how-do-oral-history

Do your research - read through this guide and the Best Practices document from the Oral History Association before you begin. Reviewing this information will provide insight into how to plan and implement your project. Outlining your project goals and timeline will further your goals for a successful interview. During this initial preparation, oral historians (aka 'you') should find an appropriate repository (such as the library's Special Collections & University Archives) to house the project’s finished oral histories and other documentation. Oral historians should take care to select a repository that aligns with the project’s goals, has the capacity to preserve the oral histories, can enforce any signed agreements, and will make them accessible to the public.

Decide on a topic - What are you interested in documenting? The experiences of Day Laborers in the Central Valley? Reflections of un-housed individuals concerning access to services? The lived experiences of a grandparent? Determining your topic will provide you with a framework for conducting your own research, as well as help you to find potential narrators for your project. 

Find a Narrator - When considering who to interview for your project, think about the experiences of the individual(s). Oral Historians should choose potential narrators based on the relevance of their experiences to the subject at hand, while striving to incorporate as many diverse voices as possible.  The process of engaging with potential narrators can be simple and brief, or involve multiple conversations. The process typically entails 1) describing the project and process and securing the informed consent of the narrator and 2) holding a pre-interview discussion to assist in the interviewer’s preparation. These meetings are important in establishing trust and mutual respect between interviewer and narrator and allowing for clear communication of the following elements:

• The topics to be covered and reasons for wanting to conduct the interview
• A summary of the procedure, i.e. when and how the interview will be recorded, the plans for archiving and accessing the interview, as well as the forms that will need to be signed. 
• Your narrator’s expectations for the oral history, such as what they want to get out of the process, what topics are meaningful to them, and what questions they should be asked before you begin.
• And a formal record (such as a signed consent form) of that agreement should be completed before recording your interview.

When working with your narrator's, be mindful of the power dynamics between the interviewer and the interviewee. Openly acknowledging power, privilege, and differences is a part of oral history process. These dynamics influence our daily interactions, and given the potential intimacy of an oral history interview, they become a crucial part of the oral history experience. Narrators are not isolated individuals, rather they are members of communities, some of whom have historically complex relationships with researchers. Be deliberate in how you frame the importance of the interview process. The ultimate goal of conducting an oral history project is to learn and grow from the experiences and reflections of your narrator. 

Create interview questions - Draft the questions before the interview. These questions should not only reflect the research you have done regarding the topic of your interview, but also be relevant to your Narrator. Questions should be open ended, for example "can you tell me about a time when _____." They should also allow for follow-up questions to occur organically during the interview. Before the interview, share an open-ended guide or outline of the themes to be covered and general questions to be asked with your narrator.

Release and consent forms - Work with your professor to determine the appropriate forms needed for your project. Typically, you will need to sign a release form with your narrator that documents their consent to be recorded for the interview as well as any agreements regarding the archiving and access to the recording. Consent forms can also document other aspects of the interview, such as giving the narrator the ability to approve the final recording before it is made available. You may need to develop multiple forms that are appropriate for documenting the process and any related agreements. All forms should be signed before the interview takes place.

References

Oral History Association. (2022, April 28). OHA Principles and Best Practices. https://www.oralhistory.org/principles-and-best-practices-revised-2018/

Mayotte, C., & Kiefer, C. (Eds.). (2018). Say it forward: a guide to social justice storytelling. Haymarket Books.

In-Person vs. Remote - There are many benefits and advantages to conducting an in-person interview, but there are times when meeting in person is not feasible or advisable. There are also times when a remote interview is the better method for the narrator, interviewer, or both. The following list of questions is meant to help you decide which is the best option, but the answers to each question may not clearly point in either direction. It is important to engage in a tactful discussion with the narrator about these questions and to use your best judgement. These questions can and should be revisited in any interviewing situation. 

• What are the narrator’s preferences? Do they feel it is important to conduct the interview in the present time, or would they prefer to wait?
• What is the ultimate goal of the recorded interview? Is it solely for historical documentation, or a web-based production (e.g. podcast, vlog)? Is it for a broadcast documentary? 
• What is the minimum quality level of the interview audio and/or video needed for your goal?
• What are the project deadlines? Can interviews wait, or is it important to gather interviews at the present time?
• If travel/meeting restrictions are in place and an in-person interview is possible at a later date, can the interview be postponed? 
• Is the narrator located too far away to conduct an in-person interview in the near future? 
• Is it possible you may have issues making a connection with and/or locating the narrator at a later date?
• What is the health and/or mobility of the narrator? Of the interviewer? Do health, disabilities, or other concerns make an in-person interview challenging?

The interview - Choose a quiet location with minimal background noises and possible distractions for your interview. Record a lead-in at the beginning of each session that includes contextual information, such as:

• names, or when appropriate, pseudonyms, of narrator and interviewer;
• full date (day, month, year) of recording session
• location of the interview (being mindful to not list personal residence address, but rather generic “narrator’s home”); and
• proposed subject of the recording.

Both parties should agree in advance to the approximate length of each interview session. Given the unpredictability of the setting, however, the interviewer should be flexible and prepared for the session to be cut short, interrupted, or possibly to run long, if both parties agree.

Along with asking open-ended questions and actively listening to the answers, be prepared to ask follow-up questions, seeking additional clarification, elaboration, and reflection. When asking questions, the interviewer should keep the following in mind:

• Interviews should be conducted in accord with any prior agreements made with narrator, and interviewers must respect the rights of interviewees to refuse to discuss certain subjects, to restrict access to the interview, or, under certain circumstances, to choose a pseudonym. Interviewers should clearly explain these options and how they would be carried out to all narrators during the pre-interview.
• Interviewers should work to achieve a balance between the objectives of the project and the perspectives of their narrators. Interviewers should provide challenging and perceptive inquiry, fully and respectfully exploring appropriate subjects, and not being satisfied with superficial responses. At the same time, they should encourage narrators to respond to questions in their own style and language and to address issues that reflect their concerns.
• Interviewers should be prepared to extend the inquiry beyond the specific focus of the project to allow the narrator to freely define what is most relevant.
• In recognition of not only the importance of oral history to an understanding of the past but also of the cost and effort involved, interviewers and narrators should mutually strive to record candid information of lasting value to future audiences.

Secure a signed legal release form when the interview has concluded!

References

Oral History Association. (2022, April 28). OHA Principles and Best Practices. https://www.oralhistory.org/principles-and-best-practices-revised-2018/

Oral History Association. (2022, April 28). Remote Interviewing Resources. https://www.oralhistory.org/remote-interviewing-resources/#personvremote

Editing the Interview

It may be necessary to edit your recording after your interview with your narrator. When conducting edits, for example to remove pre-interview audio tests, unplanned interruptions, removing white noise, or adding an introduction slide, it is imperative to share the edited recording with your narrator before making it accessible to others. Any edits should be approved by your narrator. This ensures that their voice and perspective are preserved and respected.

Preservation and storage

Once your interview has concluded, the next steps are to preserve your recording and to make sure it is accessible for others to find. The best way to ensure that your interview will be preserved is to house it in an archive.

An archive will

• Honor the stipulations of prior agreements made with the interviewers or sponsoring institutions, to the greatest extent possible, including restrictions on access and methods of distribution;
• Evaluate documentation, such as consent and/or release forms, and if they do not exist, make a good faith effort to obtain them;
• Take all steps practicable to abide by any restrictions set forth by the narrator, while also making clear that certain legal challenges—such as subpoenas or open-record requests—may make some restrictions unenforceable;
• Be prepared to provide timely access to material with considerations for expectations of narrators or project partners;
• And, when possible, consult project participants on how best to describe materials for public access and use.

When submitting your oral history project to an archive, you must include a copy of the signed release form as well as a detailed description of the interview content (where and when it took place, with whom, etc.).

References

Oral History Association. (2022, April 28). OHA Principles and Best Practices. https://www.oralhistory.org/principles-and-best-practices-revised-2018/

The following organizations offer more information for creating an oral history project, such as information on planning a project, creating interview questions, and tips for conducting the interview.

LOC The American Folklife Center 

How to Do Oral History - Smithsonian Institution Achieves 

Oral History at a Distance Webinar