The Oral History Workshop: Collect and Celebrate the Life Stories of Your Family and Friends

by Cynthia Hart, Lisa Samson

We all know that we should ask now, before it's too late, before the stories are gone forever. But knowing and doing are two different things. Cynthia Hart, author of "Cynthia Hart's Scrapbook Workshop," shows exactly how to collect, record, share, and preserve a family member's or a friend's oral history in this practical and inspirational guide. "The Oral History Workshop" breaks down what too often feels like an overwhelming project into a series of easily manageable how to prepare for an interview; how to become a better listener; why there's always more beneath the surface and the questions to ask to get there; the pros and cons of video recording, including how your subjects should dress so the focus is on their words; four steps to keeping the interview on track; how to be attentive to your subject's energy levels; and the art of archiving or scrapbooking the interview into a finished keepsake. At the heart of the book are hundreds of questions designed to cover every aspect of your subject's Do you remember when and how you learned to read? Who in your life showed you the most kindness? What insights have you gained about your parents over the years? Would you describe yourself as an optimist or a pessimist? In what ways were you introduced to music? What is the first gift you remember giving? If you could hold on to one memory forever, what would it be? When the answers are pieced together, a mosaic appears-a living history.

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction, Memoir

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get Started with step by step interview instructions and hundreds of thought provoking questions. An excellent, easy to follow, inspiring workbook that served exactly my purpose of being prepared to gather the first step of a project with my family.

Cynthia Hart is an artist and a curator, and Lisa Samson is an archivist. Their instructions are to the point, well presented in a modern and appealing fashion, and their trust that we can tackle a highly emotional journey with family members is very inspiring.

[Karen Fasimpaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very unique book that focuses on the idea of collecting oral histories and preserving them as keepsakes. It includes a large number of potential topics and questions to consider, as well as ways to turn your audio recordings into larger works, such as scrapbooks or archival entries.

[Charlene Doland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers both analog and digital approaches to oral histories. Especially liked the lists of questions for different kinds of data gathering. Would work well both in a classroom and for personal projects.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read plenty of books on this topic, and this is the best! It has hundreds of well thought out questions for all kinds of different people and scenarios. It has been a lifesaver for me, and the reason my family history interviews have been so fruitful.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good for beginners. Step by step on how to conduct and prepare for different types of interviews. Also included discussion questions on many different topics for conversation starters.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who is looking to interview and put together a family oral history.

[Anil Kanthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtfully written book for approaches to oral history recordings