"Four key elements of oral history work are preparation, interviewing, preservation, and access. Oral historians should give careful consideration to each at the start of any oral history project, regardless of whether it is comprised of one or many interviews." - Oral History Association
The resources in this section include standards, guidelines, and best practices to consider during each phase of your oral history project.
While the audio recording is the primary record of an oral history interview, transcripts are very important to the historic record. Oral history transcripts are usually verbatim, meaning they are word-for-word reflections of what is spoken in the recording.
An Oral History Transcript Should Always
The resources linked below include guidance and recommendations for transcript style and formatting. Please consult with your professor for specific requirements for your transcription project.
It is critical to consider privacy and copyright when selecting a method and tool for transcription. Services such as oTranscribe and Microsoft's Transcription Feature do not store audio or transcription files in their servers, while tools like ChatGPT and AI-enabled services often do not make their storage and use of content clear. It is best practice to select a process that respects your interviewee's right to privacy.
Metadata provides descriptive, technical, and administrative information about a resource. It is important to provide basic metadata for oral history interview recordings and transcript files to preserve integrity and enable others to discover and use them as primary sources.
