Kimberly Powell
Oral histories are stories told by living people about the past. Generally, these are stories of their own life and the lives of the people around them. Often an oral history includes details and stories that exist nowhere other than in the individual's mind. Therefore, preserving oral history and family stories should be a top priority for any family historian.
Elderly grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, and other relatives all have valuable information to share about your family history, whether they know it or not. All you have do is ask the right questions.
The best interview should be a conversation or storytelling session, rather than a Q&A. This can be especially difficult when the interview makes your storyteller uncomfortable, such as when it is being recorded. The next time you're conducting an oral history interview, try these tips for making the conversation flow.
