Oral history 

Students will conduct an oral history (30-40 minutes in length) of someone at least a generation older than they. The interview is to be transcribed. Tapes and transcriptions will become part of the WSU archives.

Oral history is the process of collecting an individual's spoken memories of his or her life, of the people he or she has known, and the events which he or she witnessed or participated in. Oral history is another primary source technique historians use to help them interpret the past. Oral histories can be used to supplement written records, complement secondary sources (what has been written by historical scholars), and to provide information that would exist in no other form.

An oral history interviewer has a special responsibility to the historical record. Although two historians may differ, for example, in their interpretation of a newspaper account of Lincoln’s assassination, the article itself will not change; it remains available for later scrutiny. An oral history interviewer, however, helps to create a primary document. By manner, assumptions, questions, and techniques the interviewer may taint the validity of information solicited. For this reason, the material recorded in an oral history interview should be as much as possible the creation of the narrator. The interviewer should not contrive information to support a pet theory.
( http://www.gcah.org/site/pp.aspx?c=ghKJI0PHIoE&b=3612121)

YourStory in a Utah based oral history project which will have a branch at Ogden's Union Station. They have lists of suggested questions: http://www.yourstory.utah.edu/triggers.html

Consider the following suggestions on how to how to conduct and utilize oral interviews.

Preparing: 

• Learn as much as possible about the topic of your interview before conducting the interview. Contact the local media reporters for suggestions on related topics, sources, etc. Carefully read the person¹s completed questionnaire. Make up a list of questions from things on the questionnaire. Do enough preliminary research so that you are able to ask intelligent questions. Prepare a brief outline of questions you will be asking.
• Make sure you are familiar with your recorder. Make sure any equipment you will be using is working properly (camcorder, tape recorder, etc.) and secure the interviewee's permission to record the interview. Practice to make sure you can operate. Have an extra tape in case the interview is longer, or in case the tape would break.
• When selecting the location for the interview, ask the interviewee where he or she would be most comfortable. Choose a place that is quiet, where there won¹t be a lot of distractions.

Conducting the Interview:

• Dress appropriately and create a good impression.
• When you get to the interview, chat briefly with your interviewee to get him or her feeling relaxed and comfortable with you. Explain, again, to the interviewee your purpose for the interview. Do not begin the interview abruptly. Introduce yourself, make the interviewee as comfortable as possible, and review the interview process you will be using. Be sure to let them know how much you appreciate getting the chance to talk with them.
• During the interview, keep things moving. Express an interest in what the interviewee is saying and listen carefully. Make a conscious effort to be unbiased and try not to influence how the interviewee will answer your questions. Have your questions ready, but do not rely totally on them. By listening carefully to what the person is speaking about, you can come up with additional questions. Avoid too many open-ended questions that require long complicated answers.
• Use a tape recorder or camcorder to more accurately record the interview. In addition, take notes and accurately record the correct spelling of name, places, etc. Silence can be productive. Do not rush the narrator to respond.
• Know the physical limitations of the person you are interviewing. If the person has a hard time hearing, make sure you speak up loudly and clearly. Do not let an interview drag on endlessly. If you still have areas to cover, you might want to take a short break.
• Have a good closing question that helps the interviewee summarize his/her statements and helps bring closure to the interview. (You could ask if they having anything else to say that you haven't asked.)
• Be sensitive.  Some subjects may provoke an emotional response. If a person starts to cry, you might turn off the tape recorder for a few minutes.
• After the interview, send a thank you note to the person being interviewed within one week of the interview. Send them a copy of the tape. The transcription is not released for scholarly use until and unless they sign a release form.

The Oral History Association: http://alpha.dickinson.edu/oha/