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How to Learn the Basics of Oral History:

  • Learn more about life stories by reading A Methodological Proposal for the Production of Life Stories by Mauro Peressini (past Curator of Social History at the Canadian Museum of History.) In this document Peressini outlines:
  • Basic background on life stories
  • Benefits and limitations of life stories
  • Peressini’s method for collecting life stories, including:
    • How to introduce projects to interviewees
    • How to start an interview and ask questions
    • How to expand on interviews and get more specific information

How to Prepare For Interviews:

How to Interview:

  • Follow the Step-by-Step Guide Toolkit for instructions on how to conduct and record an oral history interview. Instructors for on-site digitization are also included.
  • Learn how to handle difficult and unexpected situations with the Troubleshooting Toolkit.

How to Take Care of Your Collection:

  • Ensure the materials and information you collect are properly cared for by following the Guide to Safe Storage Toolkit.
  • Take a look at the Managing Collections Toolkit for an introduction to managing materials according to archival and museum standards.
  • Learn how to share and display your new collection with the Exhibits Toolkit.

Want to Learn More?

  • Learn more about oral history with some of the guides and workshops offered in the Additional Resources Toolkit.