In the midst of social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic, the UW OHC have been contacted by researchers wanting to know how best to proceed with oral history projects at this time.

Below is a list of resources, options and considerations before engaging in oral histories remotely.

Oral History Society: Advice on remote oral history interviewing during the Covid-19 pandemic

In response to increased interest in conducting remote interviews this thorough document attempts to tackle the ethical, legal, methodological and technical issues that individuals and projects will need to consider before deciding whether or not to conduct a remote interview. It also provides a variety of links to technical resources for recording remotely. Posted April 4 2020.

Authored by Charlie Morgan, Oral History Archivist, British Library, with Rob Perks, Mary Stewart, Camille Johnston (British Library Oral History, London). With thanks to Tom Lean (University of York), and Adam Tovell (British Library Sound Archive).

Oral History Association Webinar Recording: Oral History at a Distance: Conducting Remote Interviews

The Full Recording of the March 31, 2020 webinar and Q&A Session with Stephen Sloan, Adrienne Cain and Steven Sielaff is now available via the Oral History Association Website.

The slides from the webinar, a summary, and a digest of additional resources is also available.

Sponsored by Baylor University’s Institute for Oral History and the Oral History Association

Transom: Recording During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Podcast and audio storytelling web resource, Transom provides a guide to recording during the Coronavirus Pandemic compiled by TOOLS Editor Jeff Towne. Posted March 16, 2020

Baylor University: Oral History Technology

This updated companion piece to an article entitled “Brave New World: A Guide to Twenty-First Century Technology for Oral History,” published in the 2017 edition of the Sound Historian lists a variety of apps and software solutions for recording remotely.

The Vermont Folklife Center: Recording Interviews Remotely

The Vermont Folklife Center has also created a useful list of resources to record oral history interviews remotely.

Active History: A Time for Research Distancing

Alan MacEachern & William J. Turkel provide important advice in developing a digital research workflow. This is a very useful article for all researchers who are unable to access material sources and physical archives at this time. Posted March 31, 2020.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your oral history project, please feel free to contact us.