What is an oral history project?
An oral history project is a planned effort to record people talking about their lives and the places they lived. It is different from casual storytelling because it has a purpose, a method and a plan for keeping the recordings. The goal is to preserve voices and memories that would otherwise be lost.
Projects can be small, such as three interviews with relatives, or larger, such as a community-wide effort run by a library or school.
Even brief recordings are valuable if they capture how people spoke, what words they used for tools and chores and what they thought mattered. Do not wait for a perfect plan to begin.
How do I plan one?
Start with a clear question. You might focus on a farm, a church, a school, a flood year or a trade. Then make a list of people who could speak to it, and add a few younger people who can help. Decide how many interviews you can realistically do and who will do what.
A simple written plan helps. Include the topic, the people, the equipment, the schedule and where the recordings will be kept.
Younger volunteers can learn a great deal by joining an oral history project, and older participants often enjoy teaching them.
- Choose a clear topic
- List people to interview
- Decide who records, who writes notes and who stores files
- Plan where the finished material will go
How do I prepare for an interview?
Do a little research so that your questions show you care. Prepare open questions and a few follow-ups, but be ready to leave the list if the person starts telling something interesting. Choose a quiet place where the person is comfortable, often their own home.
Test your equipment first. A phone with a recording app can work well, and good sound matters more than fancy gear. Bring a notebook as backup.
Ask something specific, such as what the first day of planting looked like, rather than something general. Specific questions bring back specific memories.
How do I conduct a respectful interview?
Explain the project, how the recording will be used and who might hear it. Listen more than you talk. Do not correct or argue. If the person becomes upset, offer to pause or stop. Thank them at the end.
Interviewing older people can take energy, so keep sessions to a reasonable length and offer water and breaks. If you are young, ask an adult to join you.
Afterward, write a few notes about the setting and your impressions while they are fresh. These small details add depth to the recording later.
What about consent and privacy?
Always get written permission that says how the recording and any transcript may be used. A short form signed by the person is usual. Some people will agree to share with the family but not the public, and some will want to see a transcript first.
Questions about copyright, release forms and the rights of people mentioned in an interview are best answered by a librarian, archivist or a licensed professional. Do not rely on general advice for legal questions.
Explain that the person can stop at any time and may skip any question. Offer to send them a copy of the recording or transcript if they would like one.
Where do I keep the recordings?
Digital files can be lost easily. Keep copies in more than one place and label each file with the name, date and place. Write a short summary of each interview. Libraries, historical societies and university archives may accept finished collections, and they can tell you what format and paperwork they need.
Ask first. Archives have their own rules on what they can take.
Plan for the long term. A file format that works today may not open in twenty years, so ask the archive which formats it prefers and check your stored files every so often.
How do I share what I have collected?
There are many ways: a short exhibit at the library, an evening of listening, excerpts in a local newsletter, a booklet or a school lesson. Always follow the permissions that people gave you.
A project does not have to be big to matter. Even a few recorded conversations can give your community something it did not have before.
Whatever you share, give credit to the people who spoke, and invite those who were not interviewed to add their own memories.
Key takeaways
- Oral history is a planned effort to record people's memories in their own words.
- Prepare questions, test equipment and let people lead.
- Get written permission for how recordings and transcripts will be used.
- Back up files in more than one place and ask an archive before you hand anything over.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.