Oral History Links

The subject of oral history is so broad and there is so much information available online that you will never lack for resources and help with your own oral history project. These few articles here will probably give you more information than you’ll ever need on the subject! I chose these links also because the sites themselves are excellent resources of much more than just the oral history aspect of our research. You’ll visit them many times throughout your quest.

Oral History Tutorial
Really fantastic online text tutorial. (1) How to Conduct an Oral History (2) The Post Interview Process (3) Accuracy & Reliability Issues, including goals, prep, equipment & more.

Step by Step Guide to Oral History
Full text of guide (c) Judith Moyer 1993 & updated 1999. Four full chapters plus bibliography & oral history links. Broken down very nicely - literally a "step by step" how to guide hosted by the "DoHistory" site (A site that shows you how to piece together the past from the fragments that have survived.)

The Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide
Excellent guide complete with glossary and sample questions. Entire text viewable on site. Intro - Interview - Questions - Presenting Findings - Glossary - Bibliography - Resources - Forms - Credits. Can also download PDF file of entire Guide.

Organizing Oral History Information
Free article at Genealogy.com site. Assumes interview has been done and speaks to the "now what" afterwards. Some nice tips and things to think about.