                                 Oral Histories 
                                 Patricia  Jocius


I. Definition of Oral History - an oral history is the tape recording of 
reminiscenses about which an interviewee can speak from first-hand 
knowledge.  Through  pre-planned interviews, the information is captured in 
questions and answer form to achieve the following purposes:
     A. Bear witness of the truthfulness of God's work to one's posterity.
     B. A "living" heirloom for posterity & family unity.
     C. History gaps may be filled by getting detailed descriptions of 
        places or people no longer available, or finding out motivations, 
        or learning of the life and color of a community industry, or 
        ethnic group.


II. Advantages of An Oral History
     A. Easier - writing is hard work.  Talking is pleasant.  One hour of 
        talking equals 20 double spaced pages.  Instead of worrying about 
        stylistic niceties in sentences and paragraphs, your relative can 
        concentrate more on remembering and relating. 
     B. Fuller - a phone call home gives a fuller account than does a 
        letter.  So with an oral history.  In conversation the colorful 
        vignettes, episodes & trivialities are told, which would not be in 
        written accounts.  An hour's writing might produce 3-4 pages; 
        talking produces 20.
     C. Richer - You get a history preserved in the person's own voice, 
        filled with his or her unique expressions, emotions, and 
        personality.
     D. Rewarding - Being mailed a relative's typed history is an 
        impersonal experience. But by recording it yourself, you are right 
        there communicating, experiencing their personalities. Hearts are 
        brought together, family relationships deepened, generation gaps 
        closed.
     E. In conjunction with a transcript, it carries enormous impact.
     F. At the touch of a button, we can recall the hopes, fears, and joys 
        other generations.


III. Steps in the Interviewing Process.
     A. Decide the purpose - biographical history? focus on vacations? 
        religious service and experiences? which side of family? an old-
        timer's distant past? an event? topic? an individual or family? a 
        whole life or particular episodes?
     B. Decide the interviewee - Factors for interviewee selection include: 
        history gaps, age, significance of life experiences, geographic 
        proximity, and vacation opportunities.
     C. Contact the interviewee - jot notes on his background and his 
        experiences. Explain the purpose, length of sessions, where the         
        tapes would be kept and used for and if he would receive a copy.          
        Schedule an appointment for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at a quiet location         
        away from typewriters, children, etc.  Sign the interviewee         
        agreement form (see ** below).
     D. Prepare interview outline - consult family histories, life 
        sketches, scrapbooks and photo albums, talk with close associates 
        of the interviewee, Consult guidebooks for topic ideas.  Make a 
        list of key words  and topics to discuss. Do not word questions, 
        its sounds canned then.



     E. Know equipment beforehand - reel to reel recorders are more 
        reliable, have better fidelity.  Cassettes are more portable, 
        easier to operate, less reliable.  Your recorder must provide good 
        recording quality with microphone 5' from talkers.  Use good 
        quality tape.
     F. Plan a formal introduction to the tape - include name of 
        interviewer and interviewee, date, place, brief biographical 
        background of guest and purpose of the interview.
     G. Set up equipment - discourage third parties.  Locate recorder where 
        you can see it but he can't.  Eliminate outside noises by closing 
        windows and doors, avoiding fans and heaters, clocks and kids.  
        Position microphone within 3' to 5' of talkers.  Never hold mike.  
        Do not use built-in mike.  Do not put mike on same table as 
        recorder, picks up mechanical noises.  Bring an extension cord         
        (use electricity - not batteries), and extra tapes.
     H. Establish a rapport - by chatting about weather, etc.  then play 
        back listen to volume, then begin again,.
     I. Keep running notes - names, places, dates.  It helps to prepare an 
        index to the tape, permits checking of name spelling after the         
        interview, & helps determine direction of interview so far.
     J. Take a break - when you turn the tape.
     K. Close interview - after 1 1/2 hours maximum. .  Check spellings, 
        ask if he'll lend you mementos or scrapbooks to help prepare for 
        the next interview.
     L. Homework after interview -. label tape: names, date, length, speed 
        of tape, topics.  Listen to tape noting topics for next interview 
        and need for clarifications. Punch out back of tape if cassette.  
        After last interview, send thank you note..
     M. Storage - keep at room temperature, in container, on end.  For 
        long-term preservation, copy onto 1.5 mil thick reel to reel tape.  
        Make copies for relatives. Play and rewind every year or so.
     N. Transcript - this involves a lot of work but is worth it.  Five 
        hours of grandfather's history produces about 100 pages.  Make a 
        type transcript, being verbatim.  Then check entire transcript 
        against tape to correct errors.  Make sentences and paragraphs. Let 
        interviewee proof read it for accuracy of detail and spelling if 
        names.  Finally, type a neat copy.  Add title page with picture of 
        interviewee.  (Picture pages can be included as well as maps and 
        table of contents or index).  Photocopy - provide copies for 
        family.


IV. Tips for Interviewers 
     A. An interview is not a dialogue.
     B. Ask open-ended questions, not yes or no, but general questions 
        calling for fairly broad answers.
     C. Ask one brief question at a time.
     D. Avoid appearing too informed. Correcting an interviewee about some 
        information he or she has given you can be offensive.  Do ask for 
        clarification if a statement seems unclear to you. 
     E. If the interviewee wants to get up and how pictures or documents, 
        or wants to read something onto the tape, explain that it would be 
        better to wait until the end and then add it,
     F. Don't let periods of silence fluster you.  Give him time to answer 
        fully.  Don't interrupt.





     G. Tape is relatively inexpensive, so do not become overly worried 
        about meanderings.  Not only are these very difficult to stop 
        without hurt feelings, but the interviewee very often has a purpose 
        in pursuing the byway.  If such get completely out of hand, they 
        can usually be corrected by a close-ended question. 
     H. Start with physical description of people and move into character 
        descriptions. 
     I. Try to establish at every important point where the interviewee was 
        and what the date was.
     J. Avoid "off the record" information. Tell him you can erase it later 
        after his further  consideration.
     K. Do not switch recorder off and on. 
     L. The quality of your interview depends upon your ability to dig, to 
        get the full story, to obtain sequences and details.  If necessary, 
        use many different angles to get at elusive information.
     M. Very sensitive questions should be saved until towards the end of 
        the interview, by which time the interviewee will have been able to 
        assess and trust your genuine interest and sincerity regarding his 
        recollections.
     N. Watch for signs of fatigue or needs for a drink of water or 
        bathroom break.  If the interviewee becomes tired, a second 
        interview is worth scheduling.  End at at reasonable time.
     O. Good interviewers do not shine; only their interviews do. 


V.Use for Oral Histories 
     A. Tapes - use a family home evening.  Make slide-sound history to use 
        at family gatherings.  Provide copies to family members shut in, 
        hospitalized, blind, etc.  Record all important gatherings.
     B. Transcripts - gifts to family members.  Summaries and excerpts can 
        be used in other family histories and biographies.  Enjoyable 
        reading as part of family library Family reference book.  Fulfills 
        our commitment to write our life history.


VI.Helpful Reading
     A. "The Story of My Life"  Sylvia  Bruening, Deseret Book, SLC.  A 
          workbook for preparing and writing a personal history.
     B. "An Oral History Primer",  Hartley,  William and  Shumway, Deseret 
          Book, SLC. A small booklet discussing interviewing techniques.
     C. "Oral History for the Local Historical Society",  Willa K.  Baum.
     D. "One of the Most Important Days of My Life", Carol  Clark - an 
          introduction to oral history; and "Suggested Family Oral History 
          Topics" by  William  Hartley- in "The New Era", November. 1973.
     E. "The Beginner's Guide, Tape Recording Memories",  Shumway and 
           Hartley, "The Ensign", January 1977.
     F. "Eleventh Annual Priesthood Genealogy Seminar Syllabus - 1976", 
          Provo, Utah, pp. 21-27 - in some LDS Branch Libraries.


VII.  Sample Interviewee Agreement Form

I, ---(print interviewee full name)---, hereby give and grant, ---(print 
interviewer full name)--- full use of this oral history interview for 
whatever purposes he/she may have.  In return, I shall receive either a 
copy of the tape, or a typed copy of the interview.

                                        _____________________________________
                                        (signature of interviewee and date)


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