OHERIE-L Archives

From: Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman <>
Subject: Tips on Oral History of Your Family
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 16:33:24 -0500

When you record an oral history, remember that you're an interested
relative, not a hard-nosed reporter. Recording an oral history should be
an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, and you're more likely to
get good results if that's the case. Below are a few tips:

1.Schedule the oral history session in advance. Don't just show up on a
person's doorstep unexpectedly.

2.Bring a tape recorder, or pen and paper, or both. If you want to use a
tape recorder, make sure you get prior permission from the person you're
interviewing. You may want to take a few notes even if you use a tape
recorder, perhaps to get the correct spellings of places and people's
names. If you use a tape recorder, be sure to test the recorder as well
as the tape to make sure that each is working.

3.Make sure you record the date and location of the interview, as well as
the name of the interviewer and the interviewee.

4.Ask questions to start things off, but don't be afraid to let the
person you're interviewing talk "off the subject." You may get some of
the best stories this way. If they really start rambling, gently steer
them back to your questions.

5.Don't push for answers. If you're asking questions that seem to make
the person uncomfortable, ask if they want to continue or if they would
rather talk about something else.

6.If you ask "when" something happened, the answer will often be "I don't
know, " because the individual doesn't recall the exact date or year.
Instead of asking "when," ask the question in relation to another event.
For example, did an event take place before or after the individual got
married, or before or after the individual's parents died? You can also
begin the question with "About how old were you when...." Using these
techniques, you're more likely to get answers.

7.If you have any old pictures or other items that you have questions
about, bring them along. You may get answers to your questions, and you
will probably hear some good stories, too.

8.Keep the session relatively short, no more than one or two hours.
Recording an oral history should be fun, not hard work. You can schedule
another session at a later date if you want to continue recording the
oral history.

Michael Reck
2434 Forest Home Ave.
Riverside, Ohio 45404-2410
E-Mail:
"I owe my life to the Ancestors that I find" - Michael Reck

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• Tips on Oral History of Your Family by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman <>