Strategies for the Oral History Interview

1. Be clear in your own mind what you want to find out. It helps if you know a little about the subject so you can understand the person and ask the right questions. Bring along other sources that you might have, such as news clippings, photographs, or books. These may spark a memory for the interviewee. Maybe the person will have sources he will show you, such as a scrapbook or photo album.

2. Make a list of questions to use as a guide. Start with general questions that cannot be answered by "yes" or "no". For example, "What are some of the things you can remember happening to you at school?" NOT "Do you remember what teacher you had in first grade?" The questions should get the person to start talking, not ask for specific facts.

3. You do not have to follow your question list exactly. Some things will remind your interviewee of other interesting items you might not have thought to ask about. If he gets seriously off the subject, you can bring the interview back to the topic with a reference to the previous item of interest.

4. You do not have to write everything that is said. It is important not to write down every word that the interviewee says, but rather to take short notes to remind yourself about what was said after the interview is over. Sit down and write out what the person said as soon after the interview as possible. If you have a tape recorder you can use it during the interview, and copy down what was said after. Be sure to ask the interviewee for permission to use a tape recorder.

A Few "Do's"

-DO encourage the person to go into more depth. You can do this by asking if there is anything else about a particular thing or event that he remembers. Ask follow-up questions. If the person says something that you think is interesting, ask him more about it.
-DO encourage interviewees to tell stories in their own way, rather than asking for very specific answers they may not know. It helps if your questions aren't looking for specifics like dates or places. Try to ask questions that are easy to answer from memory.
-DO look the person in the eye. If you act interested and excited the person will be more willing to tell you more information.
-DO allow for pauses. The person may need some time to think. While the person is thinking, you can write down some notes or think of other questions you could ask, based on what has been said.
-DO make sure you have the person's name (spelled correctly), address, and telephone number.
-DO offer to share the results of the project with your interviewee. If you are going to use the interview in any public way, be sure to get the permission of your subject in writing.

A Few "Don'ts"
-DON'T interrupt the person. Make a note if you have a question about something he said and ask it when the interviewee has finished.
-DON'T tell the person he is wrong if you have heard or read something different from what he is telling you. There are no right or wrong answers in oral histories, only memories.
-DON'T give the impression you know more than the interviewee. You are going to this person because he was there when history happened.

Suggested Activities

Interview a family member, friend or neighbor, or a colleague in your school who remembers the Depression. You can also contact a senior citizen center in the neighborhood for a list of possible interviewees. Students can draw upon their own experiences to formulate questions. The following might be possible themes for discussion in the interview: responsibilities growing up ,clothing fads, experiences at school , dating and courtship,   favorite foods entertainment and interests

Suggested questions you can refer to:

How old were you when the Depression began? How did it affect you and your family? What did your family think of President Herbert Hoover and President Franklin Roosevelt? Did you know anyone who lost a job? What job? What kinds of entertainment did you enjoy? What games did you play? What songs and dances did you enjoy? What were your favorite movies and radio shows?

If the student decide to describe the interview in his/her writing ,  think about how it went, a favorite part of the interview, and what they would do differently in the next interview.