Doing Oral History on a Shoestring

Interview notes are crucial for oral history projects for several reasons:

1. Accurate documentation: Interview notes help ensure that the information provided by the narrator is accurately documented. They serve as a written record of the main points, key themes, and any specific details that may not be captured in the audio or video recording.
2. Contextual information: Notes can include contextual information about the interview setting, the narrator's body language, emotions, or any other relevant observations that may not be apparent in the recording. This additional context can be valuable when interpreting and analyzing the oral history later.
3. Backup and reference: Interview notes serve as a backup in case of technical issues with the recording equipment or if the audio or video quality is poor. They can also be used as a quick reference when reviewing the interview or when creating transcripts or summaries.
4. Identifying themes and connections: As the interviewer takes notes, they can begin to identify emerging themes, connections between stories, or areas that require follow-up questions. This can help guide the interview process and ensure that important topics are covered.
5. Facilitating analysis and interpretation: Interview notes can be used to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of the oral history. They can help researchers identify patterns, compare experiences across different narrators, and draw conclusions based on the information gathered.
6. Enhancing accessibility: Not everyone may have access to or the ability to listen to the audio or video recordings. Interview notes can provide a written summary of the key points, making the content more accessible to a wider audience.
7. Aiding in the preservation process: Interview notes are part of the overall documentation of the oral history project. They contribute to the long-term preservation of the project's content and can be archived alongside the recordings, transcripts, and other related materials.
8. To ensure the usefulness of interview notes, it is important for the interviewer to be clear, concise, and objective when documenting the information provided by the narrator. The notes should be reviewed and edited for clarity and accuracy as soon as possible after the interview to ensure that important details are not forgotten or misrepresented.