Introduction to Oral History
What Is It?
An oral history is a recorded interview with an individual about their personal experiences during, or reflections upon, moments in history. These recordings must be in the format of a formal interview, usually focusing on a particular point in time. Speeches, press conferences, or other widely produced audio recordings are not considered oral histories due to the fact that they are not in an interview format.
Why Do It?
There are many accounts of history that do not consider the perspectives of those who were directly impacted by the events that were occurring. Oral histories allow us to better understand events through the eyes of those who were there. Centering the voices of those who were directly impacted by a historical event allows historians to gather a holistic view of what happened.
Conducting Oral History Interviews
Because oral history interviews are direct interactions with living human subjects, there are important ethical and practical guidelines to consider. Learn more about best practices for oral history here:
The Oral History Association offers a list of best practices for creating an oral history. They identify four key elements of oral history work: Preparation, interviewing, preservation, and access. They encourage researchers to give careful thought to each element prior to the start of any project.
The Smithsonian Institution Archives
The Smithsonian Institution Archives offer an in-depth guide to oral historyinterviews. They also emphasize carefully considering the topics you are pursing and the questions you are asking before starting interviews through what they call the "Six R's": Research, rapport, restraint, retreat, review, and respect. They also give guidance all all steps of the creation and preservation process.
Equipment Supplied by the University of Illinois
If you are interested in conducting oral history interviews, the University Library Media Commons offers high quality recording equipment. Make sure to check their availability in advance in order to secure the equipment you need!
Further reading
The Oxford Handbook of Oral History by Publication Date: 2010The Oxford Handbook of Oral History addresses the evolution of oral history, the impact of digital technology, the most recent methodological and archival issues, and the application of oral history to both scholarly research and public presentations.
Credits
Guide created by Rachel Sudbeck, with suggestions from Geoffrey Ross and Celestina Savonius-Wroth, in 2025.