This chapter covers the use of oral history – what it is, how to prepare for an interview, equipment, setting up the interview, doing the interview, copyright issues, working with the information and where to get more help.

What Is Oral History?

According to the Oral History Society, oral history is people’s memories – the kind of history we gather as we go through life. It is important because it includes the everyday events which are often ignored in text-books, and also includes people who might have been ignored on grounds of race, disability and unemployment.

Preparation

When you are planning a project, the local radio or newspaper can put you in touch with people who remember the event or might have material; curators and library staff may also be able to suggest sources.

Read around your subject and make a list of questions you want to ask to get more information, but don’t be too rigid about it – as the interview develops you may find more information coming out. But do keep the interview going along a loose structure, otherwise you might not get answers to the questions you wanted to ask.

Interview Equipment

Use an audio recorder if you can. For a start, you won’t be able to write as fast as your subject speaks (or be able to read your notes easily after-wards). Using an audio recorder also helps you with eye contact and positive body language that might help encourage your subject. It is possible to use video, but your subject may be camera-shy! If you don’t have your own equipment, you may be able to borrow something from your local oral history group or sound archive.

Use an external microphone. If you are holding a one-to-one interview indoors, use a lapel microphone; if the interview takes place outside, use a unidirectional hand-held microphone as it will pick up less noise.

Take advice from your local oral history group about which recording equipment to use. Tapes are being phased out; Digital Audio Tape (DAT) is already obsolete; minidisc is good but you will need to transfer it to a CD-ROM or another medium that is likely to last. The Oral History Society recommends using gold rather than silver CD-ROMs.

Setting Up The Interview

Initial contact by phone is best. Say who you are, what your project is, the kind of things you would like to talk about. It is best to say you want a chat about the past or the story of their life – the word ‘interview’ can put people off.

Agree when and where you will do the interview. It is best to make it somewhere the interviewee is comfortable. Keep the interview one to one – unless the subject is a child, in which case the parent or guardian should also be present.

The Oral History Society advise that it is unethical (and sometimes illegal) to use interviews without the informed consent of the person you are interviewing, so your interviewee needs to know exactly what you are planning to do with the information (e.g. giving a copy to the local sound archive, or publishing part or all of the interview in print, in broadcast or on the internet). It is a good idea to use a clearance form (see page 154 below).

Before The Interview

Reassure your subject, who might be feeling very apprehensive, particularly if it is a first interview. Pick a quiet place where there is no TV or audio on, and away from street noise if possible. Sit side by side, and, if using a hand-held microphone, make sure it’s not on a hard surface or it may affect the recording.

Doing The Interview

• Keep questions short and clear
• Use open questions (i.e. which can’t be answered with yes or no)
• Don’t interrupt – wait for a pause before asking the next question
• Use positive body language – nods and smiles
• Don’t rush
• Don’t contradict or get into an argument with your subject
• Be sensitive and respect confidences
• Try to make smooth transitions between subjects.