A practical introduction to oral history

Preparing, recording, preserving and interpreting first-person testimony.

Samuel Okafor

Oral history is both a source and a collaborative method. It begins before the recorder is switched on: with a clear purpose, informed consent, open questions and an honest explanation of how the recording may be preserved and used.

Good practice includes recording the setting and technical details, keeping the original file, producing descriptive metadata and agreeing any access restrictions. A transcript is useful, but voice, silence, pace and emotion also carry meaning.

Memory is not a failed archive. Its omissions, changes and emotional emphases are evidence about how people understand the past from the standpoint of the present.

Testimony should be compared with other sources without treating either as automatically superior. Ethical obligations continue after an interview, especially when stories concern trauma, family members or vulnerable communities.

Sources and further reading

Oral History Association Principles and Best Practices
British Library Oral History resources