Doing Oral History on a Shoestring

Photographs of narrators who participate in an oral history project are important for several reasons:

1. Visual context: Photographs provide visual context to the oral history, allowing viewers to put a face to the voice and story. This can help create a stronger connection between the narrator and the audience, making the story more engaging and memorable.
2. Historical documentation: Photographs serve as historical documentation, capturing the narrator's appearance, clothing, and any visible personal characteristics at the time of the interview. This can be valuable for future researchers and historians studying the time period or the individual.
3. Humanizing the narrative: Seeing the narrator's face can humanize the story, reminding the audience that the experiences and emotions shared are those of a real person. This can help foster empathy and understanding, especially when the stories deal with difficult or sensitive topics.
4. Enhancing exhibits and presentations: Photographs can be used to enhance exhibits, presentations, and educational materials related to the oral history project. They can help draw attention to the project and make it more visually appealing and engaging for the audience.
5. Honoring the narrator: Including a photograph of the narrator can be a way to honor their contribution to the project and their willingness to share their personal story. It acknowledges their importance and the value of their experiences.
6. Promoting diversity and representation: Photographs can showcase the diversity of the narrators participating in the project, helping to promote representation and inclusion. This can be particularly important when documenting the experiences of marginalized or underrepresented communities.
7. Facilitating recognition and connection: In some cases, photographs may help narrators reconnect with old friends, family members, or community members who come across the oral history project. This can lead to valuable new connections and the sharing of additional stories and experiences.
8. While not all narrators may feel comfortable being photographed, offering the option and explaining the importance of including photographs can enhance the overall impact and value of an oral history project.

Narrator photographs files can come in various file types and sizes, depending on the specific requirements and resources of the oral history project. Here are some common file types and their average sizes:

Narrator Photographs - Either of these are recommended.

• JPEG (.jpg): This is a widely used compressed image format that balances quality and file size. Average file sizes can range from 500KB to 2MB, depending on the image resolution and compression level.
• TIFF (.tif): TIFF is a lossless image format that preserves high image quality but results in larger file sizes. Average file sizes can range from 5MB to 20MB or more, depending on the image resolution and color depth.
   

It's important to note that the actual file sizes may vary based on factors such as image resolution, and compression settings. When managing these files, it's essential to consider the trade-offs between quality, file size, and long-term preservation requirements. The project team should establish guidelines for file formats, naming conventions, and storage practices to ensure consistency and accessibility throughout the oral history project.