Synopses & Reviews
We all know that we should ask now, before it's too late, before the stories are gone forever. But knowing and doing are two different things.
Cynthia Hart, author of Cynthia Hart's Scrapbook Workshop, shows exactly how to collect, record, share, and preserve a family member's or a friend's oral history in this practical and inspirational guide. The Oral History Workshop breaks down what too often feels like an overwhelming project into a series of easily manageable steps: how to prepare for an interview; how to become a better listener; why there's always more beneath the surface and the questions to ask to get there; the pros and cons of video recording, including how your subjects should dress so the focus is on their words; four steps to keeping the interview on track; how to be attentive to your subject's energy levels; and the art of archiving or scrapbooking the interview into a finished keepsake.
At the heart of the book are hundreds of questions designed to cover every aspect of your subject's history: Do you remember when and how you learned to read? Who in your life showed you the most kindness? What insights have you gained about your parents over the years? Would you describe yourself as an optimist or a pessimist? In what ways were you introduced to music? What is the first gift you remember giving? If you could hold on to one memory forever, what would it be? When the answers are pieced together, a mosaic appears--a living history.
Synopsis
All it takes is one question to jump-start a project that so many of us want to do, but never get around to: sitting down with a loved one and asking for the story of his or her life. It's time to open the door to memories and discover the joy of creating an oral history.
A step-by-step guide that's both practical and inspirational, The Oral History Workshop takes what too often feels like an overwhelming project and breaks it down into a series of easily managed tasks: how to prepare for an interview, put your subject at ease, and encourage openness and candor. How to keep an interview on track--and when to follow a fascinating digression. Video vs. audio, with recording tips and preservation strategies for each. And how to weave the whole into a finished keepsake and build a family archive. Included are hundreds of thought-provoking questions guaranteed to get your subjects reminiscing.
About the Author
Cynthia Hart is a renowned designer and artist, and the owner/curator of
The Cynthia Hart Collection of Cherished Images. She is the author of
Cynthia Hart's Victoriana Calendar,
Cynthia Hart's Scrapbook Workshop,
The Love of Lace,
Parlor Cats, and other books. Her designs have been licensed to fragrance, gift, stationery, and home furnishing companies. Her studio is in New York City.
Lisa Samson, a co-founding partner of Pangolin Pictures, has produced documentaries for WNET, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, and A&E. She holds a Master's degree in history and archival management from New York University. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Wilmington, Delaware.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Before You Ask
Preparing for the Interview
Making it Happen
Recording & Troubleshooting the Interview
Ask a Question, Gather a Story
Mapping out Your Interview
Molding Your Material
Preparing & Preserving the Interview
Turning it Into Something More
Writing, Scrapbooking & Archiving Your Interview
Appendix
Acknowledgments