Suggested Topics/Questions for Oral History Interviews

From: https://siarchives.si.edu/history/how-do-oral-history

1. What is your full name?

2. Do I have permission to record this interview?

3. Where and when were you born?

4. Who else was in your family?

• What were your parents’ names?
• Are there any traditional first names in your family?
• What type of work did they do?

5. Did other family members live nearby?

• Tell me about them.
• How did they meet?
• What did they do for a living?
• When did you get to see them?

6. What did your community look like outside of your family?

• How did you meet them?
• What types of activities would you do together?
• Tell me about your neighborhood.

7. Where did your ancestors come from?

• When did they come to the United States?
• Where did they first settle?
• Did your family name change when your family immigrated to the United States?
• Are any of their traditions still carried on today?
• What language did your parents and grandparents speak?

8. What games did you play when you were young?

• What toys did you have?
• Who did you play with?
• Where did you play?
• Did you have any hobbies?
• Have your hobbies and interests changed over time?
• Did you collect anything?  Baseball cards, dolls, etc.

9. Tell me about your grammar and high school education?

• Describe your grammar school/high school.
• What subjects did you study?
• Tell me about your interests in your school days.
• Did you have any influential teachers?
• Any leadership roles in organizations/classes?
• What were your hobbies and interests as a child?
• Did you read much, if so, what topics?
• Did you belong to any influential clubs or organizations?
• Did you have any goals/dreams for when you grew up?
• How did gender roles affect you during K-12 education?

10. What holidays did your family celebrate?

• How did you celebrate them?
• What was your favorite part of the holidays?

11. Tell me about the house you grew up in.

• How was it furnished?
• Did you have your own room?
• Where did you spend most of your time?
• Did you move to another home while you were growing up?
• Tell me about the new home.
• How did your community change?

12. What were mealtimes like in your family?

• What foods did you eat?
• Who cooked the food?
• Who cleaned up after meals?

13. Did you have any pets? Describe them.

• Who took care of them?

14. What type of clothes did you wear?

• Where did you get them/who made them?
• When did you get new clothes?

15. How did your family get around?

• Did you have a car? Did you use public transportation?
• If you had a car, when did you get it?  Who drove it?
• Did you go on vacations in it?
• When did you learn to drive?  Describe your first car.
• What kind of public transportation was available?

16. What sort of entertainment did you like?

• What did you listen to growing up?
• Did you watch TV growing up? What did you watch?
• What large moments do you remember watching on TV?

17. Who was your family doctor? Describe them.

• Do you remember any epidemics or diseases?
• Did your family have any home remedies?  If so, describe.

18. What was your first job?

• Describe a typical work day.
• How much money did you earn?
• How long did you have that job? 
• What lessons did you learn?
• Additional jobs and details – trace career path, changes
• Tell me about any influential mentors. 
• What were the most memorable aspects of that position?

19. Did you attend college?

• Tell me about your college years.
• What school?  How did you decide to go there?
• What was your major?
• Any influential mentors?
• Did you do a semester abroad?
• Describe your major interests?
• What were successes/accomplishments and challenges/frustrations?
• Tell me about any gender challenges you encountered in college.

20. How have historic events, such as 9/11, hurricanes, the Great Depression, world wars, natural disasters, strikes, and now Covid-19 etc., affected you?

• Did these events impact your community?