Writing and Recording Family and Oral Histories and Life Stories

Ten steps to conducting oral history

See the best practices in conducting oral histories outlined by the pros for the pros.  Especially helpful for the serious oral history interviewer.

An attorney and family historian offers a rich selection of resources for interviewing Asian/Pacific American (APA) parents and grandparents that are helpful for all wanting to conduct an oral history of a relative.

The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive resource on how to conduct oral history interviews and offers a detailed oral history guide for download and printing. 

Record your story with others in the same room using the StoryCorps app and preserve your conversation with help from Storycorp’s DIY resources. Or record with loved ones across the street or across the country from your web browser with StoryCorps Connect.  Lots of useful tips and questions to prompt the conversation.

A year of prompts for writing life stories; includes one book with black and white interior: $99.

Family history sample outline and questions