We are DIGGING THE ROOTS!!

Shelley Murphy and I are discussing Oral History!! This is the basic thing you have to do!

Shelley:
“This is my favorite topic–I love talking to the elders in the family. Cousins, Aunties, Grandma’s or the lady down the street! I love to plan how I am going to conduct.
“First, plan in advance how many questions are you going to ask. Don’t bum-rush them, picke 3 or 4 questions, acknowledge that we are recording and then ask. Not to many an not too fast. And we know when to get quiet! Shut Up and Listen!!”

Angela:
“I get the basic data–record the full name, the date, place and the time. Then I ask one question early on—‘who was the oldest person whom you remember when you were a child?’ Oral history is a launching pad. Then I begin with the interviewee and their parents. I get their birthday, their parents and the names of all of their siblings. I then play it by ear, and follow their lead. If there was a teacher in the family, let them talk get the name of the school. Let the dialogue flow.”

The key point that we both pointed out was the need to do one thing—-LISTEN! Often what they say can lead to something else.

We had a great time in this chat, and I urge you to just tune in and listen to this conversation.