[BCMA] Osoyoos Museum Society - Oral History Project

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Here are some hints on oral interviews.  Do preliminary research on 
the subject in order to assess the quality of the informant's 
information.  Such research will familiarize you with place names, 
technical terms, and acronyms of the time.  You then will not have to 
pause during the interview to ask how to spell something or to 
request an explanation of an unfamiliar term.  The preferred subject 
is one who has hitherto unknown or unpublished information.  A brief 
conversation in advance will allow you to assess the potential of the 
informant for a full, recorded interview.  This will save you the 
embarrassment of dealing with a confused, forgetful or inarticulate 
person's testimony.  Never ask leading questions that suggest an 
answer [e.g. ""I'll bet you were annoyed when ...." instead of "how 
did you feel when ...?"]   Avoid seeking confirmation to what is 
already well known.  Plan the interview and write out your questions. 
Keep your own knowledge to yourself.  Play the humble enquirer.  Keep 
the informant on track - digressions are common. Once you have 
transcribed the testimony, go back to the informant to allow that 
person to make corrections to the typed copy and to obtain additional 
details that clarify the account.  I do this to avoid embarrassing 
the person when the quotations are published. A "consent to publish" 
form is useful.  Retaining the informant's trust and good will is 
crucial.  A respected source is a cooperative one.

Maj [ret'd] Peter Moogk, CD, Ph.D.
Curator
15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, Museum

At 11:05 AM 12/06/2012, you wrote:

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>19 Park Place ~ Box 791 ~ Osoyoos, BC ~ V0H 1V0
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>250.495.2582 ~ <http://www.osoyoosmuseum.ca/>www.osoyoosmuseum.ca
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>[]
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>Dear BCMA Members,
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>My name is Andrea Steigerwald and I am a student intern for the 
>Osoyoos Museum Society this summer. I am working on an Oral History 
>Project and will be interviewing long-time residents of Osoyoos to 
>collect stories about the development of the community over time.
>
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>I am writing as I am interested in whether your museum/cultural 
>centre has conducted oral history interviews before and if so, 
>whether you have any tips on interviewing techniques and/or other 
>resources that you suggest I consult for my project. You can reply 
>to this email or call the Osoyoos Museum at <tel:250.495.2582>250.495.2582.
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>Thank you for your time,
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>Sincerely,
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>Andrea Steigerwald
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>Community Outreach Intern
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>Osoyoos & District Museum and Archives
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>Phone: <tel:250.495.2582>250.495.2582
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>Email: <mailto:osoyoosmuseum2 at gmail.com>osoyoosmuseum2 at gmail.com
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>Website: <http://osoyoosmuseum.ca/>osoyoosmuseum.ca
>
>
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