Members of the Glencoe & District Historical Society recently joined a live online presentation by Sarah Walker on the art and practice of gathering oral histories. The session was both practical and inspiring, reminding us that capturing memories is not simply about recording sound—it is about creating space for storytelling, trust, and preservation.

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We learned that an oral history interview is closer to being a thoughtful radio host or podcast interviewer than a researcher reading questions from a page. Preparation matters greatly, but so does allowing conversation to unfold naturally.

Why Oral Histories Matter

Oral histories capture:

• Personal experiences not found in written records
  
• Community traditions such as foodways, farming practices, celebrations, and daily life
  
• Emotional tone, humour, and memory that enrich archives
  
• Stories that might otherwise be lost within a generation
  

Mary Simpson’s Reflections on a Live Presentation by Sarah Walker, Head of Reference Services, North Dakota State Archives.  Reference: State Archives Facebook page

Step 1: Set Up the Project Thoughtfully

Sarah encouraged beginning with clear planning:

• Outline the project. What stories are we trying to capture?
  
• Choose narrators intentionally. Look for people with lived experience, good memories, and willingness to share.
  
• Select interviewers. They should be curious listeners, not just question-askers.
  
• Decide on location. Quiet, comfortable spaces work best.
  
• Prepare equipment. Test everything in advance.
  
• Develop guiding questions. Use them as a framework, not a script.

“It’s a conversation, not an interrogation.”

Step 2: Think of It as a Conversation

Best approaches:

• Ask open-ended questions such as
  “Tell me about your earliest memory of….”
  
• Allow silence. People often recall more if given time.
  
• Avoid interrupting or correcting details.
  
• Let the narrator guide the emotional rhythm.
  
• There are pros and cons to asking story tellers to write out their stories beforehand—spoken memories are richer and more authentic.

Props such as photographs, letters, tools, or newspaper clippings can help spark memories naturally.

Step 3: Prepare Like a Broadcaster

This includes:

• Researching the topic beforehand so you can follow threads of conversation
  
• Setting a relaxed tone to put the narrator at ease
  
• Listening actively and asking gentle follow-up questions
  
• Keeping the exchange conversational rather than rigidly structured
  

Step 4: Avoid Common Pitfalls

Several challenges to watch for:

• Background noise or interruptions
  
• Trying to lead or control the narrator’s story
  
• Rushing responses instead of allowing reflection
  
• Becoming overly tied to prepared questions
  
• Technical failures due to lack of testing
  
• Forgetting permissions and release forms
• Too many people present during the interview leads to side conversations and noise. 

Respect the narrator’s perspective—even if you disagree. This is not a debate.

Step 5: Ethics, Permissions, and Care

Good oral history practice includes:

• Obtaining clear recorded consent for use and storage
  
• Explaining how the interview will be archived or shared
  
• Recognizing that storytelling can sometimes be emotional or cathartic
  
• Stopping before fatigue sets in—schedule manageable sessions
  

Step 6: Preserve the Original Record

From an archival standpoint:

• Keep the unedited master recording as the historical record
  
• Edited versions may be created for exhibits or presentations
  
• Store files in stable formats with backups
  
• Maintain organized metadata (who, what, where, when)
  
• Use both local backup and cloud storage when possible
• Get help from your county, provincial, or federal archivists
  

Practical Tools Mentioned

• Simple recording setups (even phones) can work if audio quality is tested
  
• Digital storage systems should be chosen early to avoid file loss
  
• Providing interview questions ahead of time can help participants feel prepared—but answers should remain unscripted.
  

Additional Best Practices (From Current Oral History Standards)

To complement Sarah Walker’s guidance, archival organizations commonly recommend:

• Record in WAV format for preservation quality
  
• Capture a short introduction stating names, date, and location
  
• Create a time-coded summary after the interview to aid researchers
  
• Store transcripts alongside audio when possible
  
• Revisit narrators later—oral history can be an ongoing relationship
  

Inspiration for Our Local Work

This session resonated. Oral histories can help us document:

• History since the ice melted 13,000 years ago.
• Changes along the Thames River landscape. Indigenous history.  Treaty history.
  
• Farming transitions and rural life. 
  
• Community organizations and local businesses
  
• Family traditions and settlement stories
  
• Everyday experiences that shaped our district
  

Looking Ahead

Sarah Walker indicated that this presentation will be available on her YouTube channel. Once posted, we will add the link here so others can benefit from her excellent guidance.

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