““African American African American Voices: Between Two Voices: Between Two

RiversRivers””

Sponsored BySponsored By

Neuse River Community Development Neuse River Community Development Corporation, IncCorporation, Inc

The North Carolina Humanities Council, The North Carolina Humanities Council, Inc.Inc.

20082008

““Their StoriesTheir Stories Our History Our History””

A Beginner’s Guide to an Oral A Beginner’s Guide to an Oral History Community ProjectHistory Community Project

• To develop an Oral History collectionTo develop an Oral History collection• To identify African Americans who To identify African Americans who have made major contributions to the have made major contributions to the communitycommunity..

• To create and maintain a collection To create and maintain a collection on the African American history -on the African American history -makers of New Bern, North Carolinamakers of New Bern, North Carolina

• To establish a small photograph To establish a small photograph collection for a publication in 2010.collection for a publication in 2010.

PartnershipsPartnerships

North Carolina Humanities Council, Inc.North Carolina Humanities Council, Inc.

The Neuse River Community Development Corporation, Inc.The Neuse River Community Development Corporation, Inc.

The Craven County Public LibraryThe Craven County Public Library

Southern Historical Oral History Program at UNC Southern Historical Oral History Program at UNC

The Collaboration The Collaboration InitiativeInitiative

The Sustainability of the The Sustainability of the ProjectProject

• The African American Oral History The African American Oral History Collection will be housed in the local Collection will be housed in the local library and at the Southern Oral History library and at the Southern Oral History program at UNC.program at UNC.

• An on-going research on the history of An on-going research on the history of African Americans in Craven County which African Americans in Craven County which will be available locally & nationally.will be available locally & nationally.

• The Neuse River Community Development The Neuse River Community Development Corporation will continue to add to the Corporation will continue to add to the collection.collection.

• Updated information continue to be put on Updated information continue to be put on the Organization’s website.the Organization’s website.

The OutcomesThe Outcomes• A better understanding of African American A better understanding of African American

culture and contributions through community culture and contributions through community voices. voices.

• We will add a major African American Oral We will add a major African American Oral History collection to the local library in History collection to the local library in this community.this community.

• To ensure the preservation of these voices To ensure the preservation of these voices are secured at a major state repository .are secured at a major state repository .

• On-going access for local students and the On-going access for local students and the community at large to:community at large to:

a.a. DiscoveryDiscoveryb.b. TeachingTeachingc.c. Researching the history of AfricanResearching the history of African

Americans in the city of New Bern.Americans in the city of New Bern.

The Project TeamThe Project Team• Oral History Committee for the city of New Oral History Committee for the city of New Bern.Bern.

• Project DirectorProject Director

• Transcriber, Interviewers and IntervieweesTranscriber, Interviewers and Interviewees

• Local Library StaffLocal Library Staff

• Community Participants & NRCDC Board MembersCommunity Participants & NRCDC Board Members

• Local HistoriansLocal Historians

The Oral History The Oral History Community ProjectCommunity Project

““More Than Just Words” More Than Just Words”

it isit is

The Beginning: New The Beginning: New VoicesVoices

What We Will CoverWhat We Will Cover

• Planning an interview projectPlanning an interview project

• Conducting InterviewsConducting Interviews

• Questions & Release FormsQuestions & Release Forms

• Transcribing the InterviewsTranscribing the Interviews

• Equipment Use and Archiving Equipment Use and Archiving Interviews CollectionInterviews Collection

• Your QuestionsYour Questions

The Consent & Release The Consent & Release FormsForms

• The Consent/Release form is a contract The Consent/Release form is a contract between your Organization, the between your Organization, the interviewer and the interviewee.interviewer and the interviewee.

• It provides all parties with It provides all parties with information aboutinformation about

a.a. What can be expectedWhat can be expected

b.b. What everyone’s rights are andWhat everyone’s rights are and

c.c. Provides the legal basis for use of Provides the legal basis for use of the interview by researchers, the the interview by researchers, the Institution and/or Organization for Institution and/or Organization for exhibit, online content, and exhibit, online content, and publicationpublication..

Who to InterviewWho to Interview

• Who are the African American Who are the African American history makers?history makers?

• Do you have the names of Do you have the names of potential interviewees?potential interviewees?

• How many interviews will we How many interviews will we conduct?conduct?

• We want to capture “their stories” We want to capture “their stories” in their own words.in their own words.

So much to think about & we So much to think about & we haven’t interviewed anyone haven’t interviewed anyone

yet!yet!• Oral histories are NOT gathered to fill shelf Oral histories are NOT gathered to fill shelf space.space.

• We gather oral histories so that current and We gather oral histories so that current and future generations will have resources to help future generations will have resources to help them contextualize, question and understand them contextualize, question and understand their history from a variety of perspectives.their history from a variety of perspectives.

• The method in which you record an interview The method in which you record an interview effects how useful it will be and may also effects how useful it will be and may also effect how long it will be accessible.effect how long it will be accessible.

• Your documentation determines how effective the Your documentation determines how effective the interview will be.interview will be.

Pre-InterviewPre-Interview • Prepare for the interviewPrepare for the interview

((Research biography, background, history, Research biography, background, history, context)context)

• Develop open–ended questions. *Avoid questions Develop open–ended questions. *Avoid questions the elicit yes/no answers.the elicit yes/no answers.

• Contact the potential interviewees – Explain:Contact the potential interviewees – Explain:a.a. The purpose of projectThe purpose of projectb.b. How their recollections are important as well as, How their recollections are important as well as,

what is involved in an oral history interview what is involved in an oral history interview

• Inform the interviewee that you will be Inform the interviewee that you will be giving them forms & information on the giving them forms & information on the project.project.

• In some cases, you may want someone known to In some cases, you may want someone known to the interviewee to make the initial contact.the interviewee to make the initial contact.

Transcription SuggestionsTranscription Suggestions • One person will transcribe.One person will transcribe.

• A 2A 2ndnd person will listen to the interview and edit person will listen to the interview and edit the transcription.the transcription.

• Reconcile all differences between the initial Reconcile all differences between the initial transcription and edited version.transcription and edited version.

• Send a copy of the interview and transcript to Send a copy of the interview and transcript to the interviewee.the interviewee.

• Ask interviewee to review transcript and send in Ask interviewee to review transcript and send in any corrections.any corrections.

• Give a specific time frame and let him or her Give a specific time frame and let him or her know that after a certain time you will assume know that after a certain time you will assume there are no corrections.there are no corrections.

Keep the Interviewee in the Keep the Interviewee in the LoopLoop

What are the standards for What are the standards for transcription?transcription?

• The transcript is a visual “guide to The transcript is a visual “guide to interview” content . It is an interpretation interview” content . It is an interpretation of the audio of what was said.of the audio of what was said.

• The recording of the interview is the The recording of the interview is the “physical artifact” It is the most “physical artifact” It is the most authentic record of the interview.authentic record of the interview.

• Follow up with a “Thank You” note for their Follow up with a “Thank You” note for their time and contribution. This should be done time and contribution. This should be done when sending a copy of the transcript.when sending a copy of the transcript.

Our focus will be on Digital Our focus will be on Digital EquipmentEquipment

1.1. Digital RecordersDigital Recorders

2.2. CD RecordersCD Recorders

3.3. Digital Dictation RecordersDigital Dictation Recorders

African American Voices:African American Voices:Between Two Rivers Oral Between Two Rivers Oral

History ProjectHistory Project

IT IS A TIME FOR IT IS A TIME FOR CHANGECHANGE !!

Making a difference in Making a difference in the African American the African American communitycommunity

The History MakersThe History Makers

Voices: Residents in Voices: Residents in the community having the community having their say!their say!

Let’s Begin the Greatest Let’s Begin the Greatest Project in this CountyProject in this County

Special ThanksSpecial Thanks • Members of the Neuse River Community Members of the Neuse River Community Development Corporation, Inc. Development Corporation, Inc.

• The North Carolina Humanities The North Carolina Humanities Council, Inc.Council, Inc.

• The Community ParticipantsThe Community Participants

• ““Bernard George, Project Director”Bernard George, Project Director”

• Tharesa Lee, CommunicationsTharesa Lee, Communications

Linda Simmons-Linda Simmons-HenryHenry

Senior Archivist, Oral Senior Archivist, Oral HistorianHistorian

& &

Project ConsultantProject Consultant

Saint Augustine’s CollegeSaint Augustine’s College