When starting your project, take some time to think about what you want to accomplish. For example:
What is your project’s purpose or primary goal?
What aspect of history are you hoping to document with the interview project? Or, if you just want to interview a single individual, why might their experiences be of interest to others?
What are two or three guiding questions that you hope the project will shed light upon?
Write down your answers to these big picture questions, and the items discussed below, to guide you through the process. Before launching your project, you’ll create a Project Description and Guidelines document to share with project participants.
There’s a lot to think about, but don’t be overwhelmed. Remember we’re here to help. We’ve done this before. Contact us at archives@iastate.edu to schedule a consultation.
Decide whom to include in your project. Generally speaking, what types of people do you hope to interview? Who should the core participants be--those who can best speak to the subjects you want to document? Also, think about including participants who may have different perspectives from your core group or who can provide additional context.
Given the project’s goals, time frame, and the resources you have to work with, how many people can reasonably be interviewed for the project?
We highly recommend recruiting a project steering committee and/or a team of volunteers to help you manage and execute the project, especially if you are contemplating a large project. Managing a community history project is a lot of work, and having a team with whom to think things through and divide up the work can both enhance and enliven the project. Trust us, there’s plenty to do.
Create an interview template, or a list of topics and sample questions. This provides your interviews with some degree of consistency and serves as a useful guide for interviewers and interviewees alike.
First, brainstorm topics you hope the interviews will address. Doing some background research on the subject in question and the historical time period can help you generate ideas. Ask others familiar with the topic or interviewees for their input.
Next, for each topic, draft some sample questions. Take care to craft open-ended questions that will elicit detailed, descriptive responses. You want to get your interviewees in storytelling mode. Contact us for sample interview templates that can be used as models.
Be sure to allow room for follow-up questions that encourage interviewees to clarify and expand upon their answers. Use the interview template as a guide to ensure adequate coverage, but don’t be afraid to go off script. Many insights occur when interviews go in unexpected ways!
You’ll need to make some decisions about project methodology. Record the answers to these questions in your Project Description and Guidelines.
What should the name of your project be? Choose something that accurately describes your project and its likely participants and that users in the future will be able to easily understand.
Do you want to capture the interviews on audio only, or would video enhance the project?
Who will conduct the interviews, and what kind of support or training might they need?
Are your project participants likely to have recording equipment on hand, or will they need to borrow it? Will interviewers and interviewees be able to conduct in-person interviews, or will they need to arrange for remote recording?
If sensitive topics might be discussed, what types of participant guidelines might be needed?
How long should interviews generally be?
How will you invite interviewees to participate?
Decide who your project coordinator will be. This is the person who will interact with the University Archives as the project gets underway. Project coordinators must contact the University Archives at archives@iastate.edu to coordinate project logistics. SCUA will:
Work with you to set up Google Drive project folders and forms (to document and share project-specific information and upload files).
Show you how to update interview progress in the Project management sheet.
Demonstrate how to upload interview recordings and fill out interview summary forms.
Arrange to loan equipment to project participants, or (if applicable) schedule Zoom meetings.
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