Welcome to the Southern Foodways Alliance -- an institute
of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture with headquarters at the
University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Southern Foodways Alliance documents and celebrates the diverse food cultures of the American South. We set a common table where black and white, rich and poor -- all who gather-- may consider our history and our future in a spirit of reconciliation.
SFA Oral History Initiative
A Short Guide to Oral History Interviews
The information below is meant to be a short-reference
"how to" guide to oral history projects sponsored by the Southern
Foodways Alliance. Please add to our suggestions as needed, but be sure
to meet these minimum requirements.
Contact the interviewee and set date/time for interview.
Call back to confirm interview 48 hours in advance.
Familiarize yourself with all the questions before you
begin the interview.
Gather all equipment, including (but not limited to) the
mini-disc recorder, mini-discs, extra batteries, a power cord, the list
of questions, a notebook and pen, and a Sharpie for labeling interview
discs. Be sure to test your equipment before leaving.
Beginning the Interview
Find a place where your subject is comfortable, and
background noise (cars, fans, etc.) is minimized.
Make your subject comfortable by introducing yourself,
explaining your equipment, and asking if they have questions re: the
interview.
Ask subject to sign an interview release form, and make
sure that they understand what it means.
Test your equipment -- play back the disc to make sure
it recorded your voice.
Begin tape: identify yourself, state date and time,
location, subject's name, and interview topic
(Ex: This is Tom Brokow and today is Tuesday, March 18, 2003 at 4
p.m. We're in Oxford, Mississippi, at the home of barbecue pitmaster
Mr. John Smith. We're here today to speak with Mr. Smith about his
restaurant.).
Verify, on tape, that the subject knows he/she is being
recorded and that people will be able to listen to the tape and read
the transcripts of the interview (Ex: Mr. Smith, do you understand
that this interview is being recorded? Have you just signed a release
form giving us permission to use this interview?).
Have the subject state his name and address, on tape,
for the record (spelling any necessary words).
Commence the interview.
Interviewing
Look the narrator in the eye.
Do not voice verbal agreement ("uh-huh") Ð nod your
head in silent agreement.
Keep a notebook handy to record follow up questions
while the narrator is speaking. Do not interrupt the speaker.
Do not check your watch for time, but periodically check
the recording equipment to make sure that it its working properly.
Conclude the interview on tape (Ex: This concludes our
interview with Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith, thank you for your time).
After the Interview (on site)
Thank the subject for his/her time.
Label the recording before packing up your equipment.
After the Interview (at home)
Send a handwritten note to the interviewee, thanking them
for their time and participation in the Southern Foodways Alliance Oral
History Initiative.
Write down your impressions of the interview (a short,
one page reflection will do). Include any information (descriptions
of place, clothing, etc.) that might help a listener understand the
interview better.
Make a list of key words from the interview that might
be helpful to an audience using a research guide (i.e. barbecue; Como,
MS; Memphis; grandmother's cooking).
Make two duplicate copies of the interview, clearly labeling
these copies DUPLICATE
Transcribe the interview two ways:
Listen to the tape to record questions
and the time location (MiniDisc) or counter number (audio tape) where
each is asked (Ex: Where were you born? 1:16 [time] or 025 [counter]).
OR
Type the entire interview according
to our transcription guidelines.
Items to turn in to complete the interview:
All SIGNED release forms.
All other necessary FORMS from the SFA Website (cover
sheet, checklist, etc.)
Original recording plus two duplicate copies--LABELED
Transcribed copy of interview (hard copy and on disc -
Microsoft Word format)
Photographs (originals and/or scans), if applicable.
Send all materials to:
The Southern Foodways Alliance Oral History Initiative
Center for the Study of Southern Culture
Barnard Observatory
University, MS 38677-1848
