It is usually a sound recording of an interview with a person who has knowledge of the past and can share their personal and unique version of history.
A well-prepared interviewer conducts background research to ensure their knowledge of the subject to be discussed and recorded.
Practitioners of oral history are encouraged to make the results of their interviews available to other researchers.
Oral history recordings not only preserve memories but also voices. Every interviewee shares stories in their own words. The tone, inflections and emotions in each voice are captured, adding depth and meaning to their words.
The OHAA encourages oral historians to deposit their tapes into a state, local or national repository where they can be made available to other researchers.
There are many ways in which oral history can be used. Some are:
- Quotations and information from interviews are used in publications - books, theses, reports, essays, magazine articles and on websites.
- Excerpts from interviews, in written or sound format can be used in exhibitions and museum displays.
- Excerpts from recordings are broadcast on radio and television or can be used as sound bytes on websites.
- Oral history excerpts can be used as part of audio walking tours or as dialogue in plays.
- Oral history methodology can be used in schools as a way to make the study of history feel more relevant to young people who can have interactive study by talking about the past with a member of their community.
Guidelines of Ethical Practice
The Association is concerned that due regard be given to ethical practices, and strongly advises that the following guidelines be followed by anyone involved in oral history.
These guidelines describe ethical practice only. Information about method is available elsewhere and it is hoped that no one undertakes oral history without being competent in interview technique. Questions regarding any issue arising from these guidelines may be directed to the Oral History Association of Australia.
Oral history involves recording, preserving and making available candid information that may be sensitive or confidential. The Association advises all interviewers to act to preserve the rights and responsibilities of the different parties involved and to refuse to work in any other way.
The interviewer's responsibilities are to protect the rights of interviewees by:
- explaining the purpose of each interview: how it will be organised and recorded, whether it will be placed in a repository, and what interviewees will receive after the interview, such as a copy of the tape, transcript or planned publication
-
explaining oral history copyright: the implications of assigning copyright to another party, and the rights of interviewees to have a say in the use of their material by asking for anonymity and/or placing restrictions on use of the interview during their lifetime
-
explaining possible future use of interviews by all parties involved such as the interviewer, interviewee, and a repository
-
giving each interviewee an agreement to sign that clearly states whether the interviewee will retain copyright or assign it to another party and under what conditions assignment of copyright is granted; any change in use not covered in the original agreement would need to be renegotiated
-
conducting interviews with objectivity, honesty and integrity
-
being aware of defamation laws and the implications, for all parties concerned, of recording potentially defamatory material
-
treating every interview as a confidential conversation until an interviewee gives the right to share information through an agreement
-
ensuring that interviewees are given the opportunity to review, correct and/or withdraw material
- ensuring that interviews are preserved for future researchers by, if possible, placing them in a repository under conditions agreeable to the interviewee
The interviewer should ask that funding bodies or employers:
-
provide a written contract or agree to a written proposal that clearly states the purpose and intended use of interviews and what copyright provisions apply
-
accept the confidential status of interviews until the completion of a signed agreement allowing conditions that may be placed by parties to be observed
-
allow the interviewer to act professionally and to abide by the guidelines of ethical practice of the Oral History Association of Australia
-
place interviews in a repository where they will be available for research
- archived in a responsible manner where they’ll receive maximum protection for humidity etc
OHAA Guidelines on Fees for Interviewing and Transcription
For more information on our guidelines, click here to download a pdf.