Oral History:A Brief Overview

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Warm Up Activity

I can remember when…

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What we will do in this session:

1.) What is oral history and why is it important?

2.) Listening to an oral history

3.) Practicing oral history

4.) Sharing what we learned from each other

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Why Oral History?“The real record of history is found in the

lives of the ordinary people who lived it. Collecting, preserving and sharing oral histories not only transmits knowledge from one generation to the next, it enhances our understanding of the past by illuminating personal experience.”

--Texas Historical Commission

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Interviewing Tips

Oral history is a technique.

It can be taught.

It can be learned.

You can get better at doing it.

It can be enjoyable and rewarding!

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Find a partner and ask him/her about his/her favorite birthday.

Try interviewing the WRONG way:

• Ask questions that require only a “yes” or “no” answer

• Don’t listen to the interviewee

• Interrupt or argue with the interviewee

• Look disinterested

• Don’t ask any follow-up questions

• Ask more than one question at a time

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A good interviewer…• Shows respect for the interviewee

• Listens well

– stays quiet while the interviewee speaks

– takes notes

• Helps the interviewee remember more

– researches the topic in advance

– asks open-ended questions

– asks follow-up questions to get more details

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Work from a list of topics, rather than specific questions.

Example: My neighborhood:» Origin of its name» Description» Beginnings» Changes over time» Businesses» Get togethers (when, where, why)» Racial/ethnic/economic makeup» Holidays» Safety» Effects of historical events, natural disasters

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To start an interview:

• This is (your name)

• Today is (month/day/year)

• I am interviewing (full name)

• This interview is taking place at (address or description of place)

• This interview is part of the (title or description) project

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Follow-up Questions

• Ask for definitions– What does _____ mean?– Describe a ___________

• Ask for details– What else? Who else? How often? – What happened next?

• Best follow-up question of all time:– Tell me more about ____

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Summary

• What else would you like to talk about that we haven’t covered?

• Is there anything I failed to ask that you think I should know about this subject?

• End with a “Thank you!”

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Oral History Quilt

What did you learn about someone else that interested you?

Get a small piece of paper and write down one thing he/she told you. Glue onto the paper quilt.