Doing Oral History on a Shoestring

These roles may overlap or be combined depending on the size and scope of the oral history project. Smaller projects may have individuals taking on multiple roles, while larger projects may have dedicated teams for each responsibility. Clear communication and collaboration among team members are essential for the success of an oral history project.

1. Project Manager:
   • Oversees the entire oral history project and ensures its smooth execution.
   • Coordinates team members, sets project goals, and establishes timelines.
   • Manages the project budget and resources. Justification: A project manager is essential to ensure the project stays on track, meets its objectives, and is completed within the allocated resources.
2. Interviewer:
   • Conducts interviews with participants and gathers their stories and experiences.
   • Develops interview questions and guides the conversation to elicit relevant information.
   • Ensures participants feel comfortable and respected throughout the interview process. Justification: The interviewer plays a crucial role in collecting the primary source material for the oral history project and ensuring the quality of the interviews.
3. Transcriptionist:
   • Transcribes the recorded interviews into written form.
   • Ensures the accuracy of the transcriptions and maintains the integrity of the participants' words.
   • May also provide initial editing and proofreading of the transcripts. Justification: Accurate transcriptions are essential for the accessibility, analysis, and preservation of the oral history interviews.
4. Archivist or Librarian:
   • Organizes and catalogs the collected oral history materials, including audio recordings, transcripts, and related documents.
   • Develops and maintains a system for easy access and retrieval of the materials.
   • Ensures the long-term preservation of the oral history collection. Justification: Proper organization and preservation of the oral history materials are crucial for their future use and accessibility by researchers, educators, and the public.
5. Researcher or Historian:
   • Conducts background research on the project's topic and provides historical context.
   • Assists in the development of interview questions and the selection of participants.
   • Analyzes the collected oral histories and interprets their significance within the broader historical narrative. Justification: The researcher or historian ensures the oral history project is grounded in accurate historical context and contributes to the scholarly understanding of the topic.
6. Technology Specialist:
   • Oversees the technical aspects of recording, storing, and preserving the oral history interviews.
   • Ensures the quality of the audio or video recordings and manages the digital files.
   • Provides technical support and training to team members as needed. Justification: Proper handling of the technical aspects is essential for the quality and longevity of the oral history recordings.
7. Outreach and Engagement Coordinator:
   • Promotes the oral history project to potential participants and the wider community.
   • Develops and implements strategies to engage the public with the project's findings and outcomes.
   • Organizes events, exhibits, or publications to share the oral histories with a broader audience. Justification: Effective outreach and engagement help to increase the impact and visibility of the oral history project and ensure its relevance to the community.