Oral History
Project
An oral history can provide some of the best information about a topic. Oral histories will look at information provided by a local community member. It is a look at the memories of individuals that have a personal account of a specific time period or event in local or national history. It is an excellent activity for schoolchildren on learning about their local history.
When conducting an oral history interview, follow these few steps
for a successful encounter:
1. Select a topic
from your local community.
2. Research the
topic to better understand the overall events.
3. Contact a member
of the community that was involved in the period or event and is willing to
answer your questions.
4. Conduct the
interview. If possible, record the
meeting. Be sure to limit any questions
to 1-2 hours. Ask open-ended questions
that will require more than a 1-word response.
Always be polite.
5. After the
interview, listen to the recorded information and write out what had been said
by the person interviewed.
Sample questions for an Oral History on World War II:
1.
What was your age between 1941-1945?
2.
If you were still in school, in what sort of activities did you
class participate?
3.
What were the overall feelings of your friends and neighbors during
those years?
4.
Did you know any people who were fighting in the war? If so, who were they and what happened to
them?
5.
What kinds of things did your parents or other relatives become
involved with?
6.
How did your life change during those years of war?
