For a very long time among many different cultures, in particular the oral history was the only way of remembering one’s lineage and the important events of a group of people. 

Even now, there are parts of each person’s history that no one but he or she knows. Unless someone asks and then considers it a duty of theirs and records the information, those parts will be lost over the passage of time. As a result, minimally interviewing the elder members of your family becomes a very important part of filling out your family tree and histories more completely. 

Step one in this process is determining who you want to interview. Consider who in your family seems to know the most (or remember the most) and ask if they’re willing to help. Make a complete list of people that you feel should be interviewed and in what order. Remember the longer you wait to record oral histories the fuzzier they may become (again good reason to start with elderly members)! 

Now, some people may balk, feeling they have nothing to offer in your search. Don’t let that stop you. Still ask your questions in person, by phone, via mail or online. Both you and they may be surprised by how much “trivial” information proves very important in the larger picture. Additionally they are the only one who can provide their personal perspective of the past. 

Before sitting down to the interview take the time to gather whatever information you already collected. Some of this may spark memories for your interviewee, and it also gives you a framework within with to place the information you’re about to be given. Basic facts are your black and white outlines that the interviewee can personalize and color in with their memories.

You can do these interviews by mail, telephone, in person or online but it’s strongly recommended that you use a tape recorder if possible. This way you can go back over pieces of information as you transfer them into whatever database structure you’re using. One word of caution. Memories are very subjective. Two people can remember the same moment quite differently. Allow for that kind of human error when reviewing the materials. If you find conflicting information later on, keep digging until you get several reports that agree.

Tags:  family histories oral history spoken history