Oral History Projects
Whether recording a personal life story or documenting the history of an organization, oral history projects capture memories and perspectives through recorded interviews and careful transcription, ensuring that these stories are not lost to time. Print documents can only reveal so much about the lived history of an individual, group, or organization. Oral histories preserve memories, milestones, challenges and successes through first-person accounts and storytelling.
For an individual or family member, an oral history preserves the memories of a relative for families to share with future generations.
For institutions or organizations, an oral history project captures institutional memory, milestones, and important transitions in the lifetime of an agency.
Oral histories documents (audio, video, and print/digital transcripts) are professionally preserved for future use and interpretation.
My approach to oral history is to allow stories to unfold authentically through conversational interviews. Consent and transparency are key elements of the trust established during the preinterview process. Every project includes planning, research, interviews, transcription, editing, vetting, and sharing the final portfolio with narrators and (sometimes) stakeholders. In our initial consultation, we’ll define the scope of your project. During interviews, I listen closely and gently guide the conversation. Recorded interviews are best when conducted in person, but zoom interviews are also possible. Professional transcription and careful editing follow best practices as established by the Oral History Association. The final portfolio includes a digital audio/video files and vetted print and digital transcripts.