MVHS: Honea-Worley Scholarship

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Honea-Worley Family History Award for Scholarship

ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS

Before the Interview Begins
Talk to one or more older family members. Tell them about your family history project and ask them if you can talk with them about the family. Make an appointment, in advance, for a time that is convenient for that person.Make a list of questions with specific objectives in mind: what do you want to learn. Your questions should be short and to the point. Frame each question so that it can not be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." You will want to elicit facts as well as feelings or reactions, and descriptions-who, what, why, and when.

Take your note paper, pencil, and charts with you.

Conducting the Interview
It is helpful to tape your interview. If you wish to use a tape recorder, be sure to ask permission as some folks will not want to be taped. If that is the case, you may have to resort to taking notes.

It may be necessary for you to prompt by asking questions. When this is necessary be sure to ask one question at a time. It is important that the people you are interviewing feel comfortable. If you find that they are not comfortable with a particular question, don't press it, go on to something else. People sometimes forget things likes dates and places or have different opinions on names and dates. If this happens do not contradict or belittle them, move on to something else (making a note to yourself to check if it's a contradiction).

You will also want to ask the interviewee if they have any old family photographs, family Bible, family heirlooms, or memorabilia that you can look at as they discuss the stories that go with them.

If the interview runs over forty-five minutes, you may wish to make arrangements to continue at a later time.

If you must use the telephone (not recommended when the person you are interviewing lives near by), be sure to consider the time of your phone call—do not call at meal time.

After the Interview is Over
When you have completed an interview, it is wise to write a summary as soon as possible while the facts are still fresh in your mind. Even taped interviews should be transcribed at the earliest possible convenience. Weave the facts and stories which you have found into your family history.

Suggestions for Oral History Interview Questions

After whom were you named?
What do you/did you do for a living? (your principal profession or occupation)
When and where were you born?
If married, when and where were you married?
How and when did you meet your spouse?
What was your father's name?
What was your mother's maiden name?
What are your memories of your parents?
Did you serve in the military? If so, which branch and where?
Would you like to describe some of your experiences in the service?
What are your memories of your grandparents?
Who were your brothers and sisters and where are they now?
What are some of your earliest memories?
Where have you lived and what was it like?
Did you like school? Why or why not?
What were the fashions (clothing, hairdos, etc.) like when you were in high school?
What did you like best (or worst) about your studies?
Are there any pictures available from those school days?
Did your family regularly participate in religious activities? If so, where and how?
Can you describe your parents' social life?
What hardships has your family faced?
In what ways are you like your mother/grandmother or father/grandfather?
How did your family celebrate holidays?
Can you relate some stories handed down in your family?
Do you enjoy traveling? If so, why?
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Would you tell me some stories of things that have happened to you?
(such as funniest, most embarrassing, most tender)

Many families have traditions which have been passed down from generation to generation. These are an important part your history and it would be appropriate to include them in your project.