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Oral History Guidelines
Be clear in your own mind what you want to find out. It helps if you know a little about the subject so that 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 or she will show you, such as a scrapbook, a photo album, or a family Bible.
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 that 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 relating specific facts.
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 or she gets seriously off the subject, you can bring the interview back to the topic with a reference to the previous item of interest.
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 transcribe what was said later. Be sure to ask the interviewee for permission to use a tape recorder.