Oral History Project
What is an Oral History?
Everyone has a story to tell. An oral history project collects the memories and
experiences of everyday people, not just the rich, powerful, and famous. It is
important to collect these memories because these memories tell the story of a
people, of a community, and of a country.
These stories are testimonies about the past and they are systematically
collected, translated and then archived, so that people around the world may
begin to understand what life was like for people from this region. An
interviewer and interviewee therefore create a historical record of the past
that others can read to learn about the culture and experience of another
people.
Oral histories are dependent on the spoken word and memory. They are
collected by taking notes, thus creating a transcript, or using an audio-visual
device. It is important to create a transcript in addition to an electronic
recording of the interview in order to have a written record to refer to.
Oral histories are limited by time, so it is important to record them before it is
too late and we lose valuable stories from the past.
Translating these experiences into English helps educate people in the
western world about experiences in the former Soviet States. It helps people
understand one another and learn about what makes us different, but also
the same.
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
Family History Guidelines
Family History is simply an article you write about important people in your family, who are no longer
living. Interview your family members about family history. Maybe there is a great war veteran in your
family, or an inspiring tale of survival. You can ask about the experiences of grand parents, great
aunts and uncles, cousins and learn more about how your family came to be.
Because a Family History is about a person who no longer living, a recording is not necessary. Instead of
a recording, you can include other kinds of documents in your Family history, like Newspaper Articles,
pictures, postcards, letters—anything that helps tell the story of your relative.
1. Find a person/s to interview.
2. Complete a Pre-Interview Survey. This will give you some questions to ask the person you interview.
3. After interviewing your family members, write an article about your family history or an important
member of your family.
4. Have the following people sign Eastword’s permission form (downloadable at the website):
o All people you interviewed
o All people who helped you translate
o You (you’re the author)
6. After you’re finished, make a copy of all the materials for yourself and send a second copy to
Eastword. Please send:
o Complete Pre-interview Survey
o Permission forms
o Documents you would like to include, like pictures, letters, postcards or newspaper articles
o Your article about your Family History in both your first language and the English translation
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
Oral History Guidelines
An Oral History is a first-person interview. This interview is recorded, creating a record of someone’s
personal memories about their lives. The person you interview can be a war veteran, a family friend, a
neighbor or a relative. Their story can be about WWII, the famine, or life in the former Soviet Union.
1. Find a person/s to interview. Get their permission to interview them. (You can use our interview guide
for ideas on questions.)
2. Record the interview using your computer or a digital voice recorder. If you do not have a digital
voice recorder, please use a tape and make a copy to send to Eastword.
3. Transcribe the interview. First transcribe (write down exactly what is said during the interview by
both you and the person you are interviewing) in the native language (the language you both speak).
Then translate the transcript to English, or ask a teacher to help you translate it to English. If you are
unable to translate or transcribe the material, send your recorded interview to Eastword and we will
find a translator for you.
4. Have the following people sign Eastword’s permission form (downloadable at the website):
o All people you interviewed
o All people who helped you translate
o You (you’re the author)
5. After you’re finished, make a copy of all the materials for yourself and send a second copy to
Eastword. Please send:
o Transcripts in both languages
o Complete Pre-interview Survey
o A copy of the recording
o Optional: You may include an introduction to your interview that will be published with your
interview. In the introduction you can share your thoughts about the person you interviewed
and their story.
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
Interview Tips
o Always begin with a pre-interview. Ideally a pre-interview would be conducted a day or two
before the actual interview.
a. Pre-interviews provide you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the person you
will talk with and the topics you will cover.
b. It also provides you and your interviewee an opportunity to get more comfortable
around each other.
c. Pre-interviewing can also save time as you will have already discovered some
interesting points to cover in the actual interview.
o Take notes. Always have a means of note taking. When conducting interviews, especially
about memories from the past, your interviewee will have many opportunities to let his or
her mind wander. You don’t want to stop these reminiscences, but you don’t want the topic
of the interview to be discarded either. Good notes allow you to scan back and ask directed
questions that will put the interview back on track. Notes also help you remember what good
follow-up questions might be.
o Set a time limit. Having a definite point when the interview will end will keep you focused on
your topic and the progress of the interview. When interviewing the elderly, long interviews
might be difficult. Time limits also help with this.
o Respect the person you are interviewing. It’s okay if they don’t want to answer all the
questions in the pre-interview. Don’t push them.
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
PRE-INTERVIEW SURVEY
ABOUT THE PERSON DOING THE INTERVIEW
or WRITING THE FAMILY HISTORY:
Name:
Current Address:
Country:
City:
Index (Zip Code):
Telephone Number(s): (1)
(2)
Date of Interview: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
/
Where was the interview taken? City
Country
Check one. This is a
Family History (does not require a transcript and recording)
Oral History (requires transcript and recording)
Check all that apply. This is a
Famine History
World War II History
Post-World War II History
Other:
Please note. You must include a release form with each history. If you do not include a release form for you and
the people you have interviewed, we cannot publish your interview.
ABOUT THE PERSON BEING INTERVIEWED
or THE SUBJECT OF YOUR FAMILY HISTORY:
Use this as a starting point for your history. When you do the recorded interview (if you are submitting an oral
history to the archive) the answers to these questions will give you an idea of where to start. During the preinterview will you learn many interesting facts about the person you are interviewing. You can use these facts to
think about more questions for the final interview. Remember, it’s okay if the person you are interviewing
doesn’t want to answer all of the questions.
Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Place of Birth: City
/
/
Country
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
For Oral History Interviews, please include
Country:
City:
Index (Zip Code):
Telephone Number(s): (1)
(2)
For Family History’s please include
Date of Death of History’s subject: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Place of Death: City
/
/
Country
Thank you for contributing to Eastword!
Please include a copy of the pre-interview when submitting a Family History or Oral History to Eastword.
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
Pre-Interview Guide: Here are some questions you can ask during the pre-interview to
get to know the person you are interviewing. You do NOT have to send these answers
to Eastword.
FAMILY INFORMATION
Father's Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
Date of Death: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
/
City of Birth:
/
Country
City of Death:
Country
Ethnicity:
Education (check highest level of education):
high school
some college
college
none
some elementary
elementary
some high school
graduate school.
If your father attended college, please list name of school and year of graduation:
College/University:
Graduation year:
Degree/Specialization:
Father's Occupational History:
Father's Religious Affiliation:
Father's Political Affiliation:
Father's Military Service:
Mother's Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
Date of Death: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
/
City of Birth:
/
Country
City of Death:
Country
Ethnicity:
Education (check highest level of education):
high school
some college
college
none
some elementary
elementary
some high school
graduate school.
If your mother attended college, please list name of school and year of graduation:
College/University:
Graduation year:
Degree/Specialization:
Mother’s Occupational History:
Mother’s Religious Affiliation:
Mother’s Political Affiliation:
Mother's Military Service:
City of Parents' Marriage:
Date of Marriage: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Country:
/
/
Please list the names of your brothers and sisters, dates of birth, highest level of education, and degree attained.
(Please list name of school and date of graduation, if possible.)
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
1. Sibling's Name:
Highest level of education:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
School of Graduation:
Year of Graduation:
2. Sibling's Name:
Highest level of education:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
School of Graduation:
Year of Graduation:
3. Sibling's Name:
Highest level of education:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
School of Graduation:
Year of Graduation:
4. Sibling's Name:
Highest level of education:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
School of Graduation:
Year of Graduation:
5. Sibling's Name:
Highest level of education:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
School of Graduation:
Year of Graduation:
6. Sibling's Name:
Highest level of education:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
School of Graduation:
Year of Graduation:
Use this area for additional Siblings:
Did other close relatives serve in the military? Yes
No
If so, please give details:
EDUCATION
If the education of the person your history is about was interrupted due to military service, etc., please make a
note.
Elementary School – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
City:
High School – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Technical/Professional School – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
City:
Undergraduate – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
Major(s) field of study:
Athletic Teams:
Clubs:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
City:
Major(s) field of study:
Athletic Teams:
Clubs:
Where did you live during university?
What was your religious affiliation at university?
What was your political affiliation at university?
Graduate School(s) – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
Major(s) field of study:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
City:
Major(s) field of study:
MILITARY
City of Enlistment:
Date of Enlistment: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Country:
/ /
Age:
Branch of Service:
Rank at Enlistment:
Service in the Army:
Company:
Troop:
Commanded by:
Commanded by:
Battery:
Commanded by:
Battalion:
Commanded by:
Regiment:
Commanded by:
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
Division:
Commanded by:
Service in the Navy
Base/Shore Facility:
Commanded by:
Ship(s):
Commanded by:
Squadron:
Commanded by:
Service in Air Force:
Group:
Commanded by:
Squadron:
Commanded by:
Station/Base:
Commanded by:
If the person you are interviewing served in multiple units, please list their primary unit here and others on the
back of this survey. If they were a career military officer/enlisted person, you may wish to include a résumé.
Where did you complete basic training?
Where did you complete advanced training?
Did you enter an officer's training program? Yes
training? City:
No
If yes, when and where did you complete your
Country:
Year:
Did you apply for any specialized branches of the service or training opportunities (i.e. the airborne, radio
school, etc.)? Yes
No
If accepted, please list and give dates:
Special Branch:
Year(s):
Special Branch:
Year(s):
Special Branch:
Year(s):
What was your primary job in the military (i.e., infantryman, pilot, clerk, etc.)?
Please list any home-country postings (with dates):
1. Post:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
/
- End
/
/
- End
/
/
- End
/
2. Post:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
3. Post:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
Please list any overseas postings (with dates):
1. Post:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
/
- End
/
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
2. Post:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
/
- End
/
/
- End
/
3. Post:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
Did you ever take part in any combat action? Yes
No
If so, where, when, and against whom?
1. Where:
Against:
Date: (mm/dd/yyyy):
Were you wounded? Yes
No
Date: (mm/dd/yyyy):
Were you wounded? Yes
No
Date: (mm/dd/yyyy):
Were you wounded? Yes
Were you a prisoner of war? (yes or no) Yes
No
No
Where:
/
/
If yes, please describe your injury
3. Where:
Against:
/
If yes, please describe your injury
2. Where:
Against:
/
/
/
If yes, please describe your injury
If so, where were you held and for how long?
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
/
- End
/
Please list any awards and decorations received:
1.
2.
3.
Additional:
Please list date, place of and rank at discharge:
Where:
Date: (mm/dd/yyyy):
/
/
THE HOME FRONT
Rank:
(People who did not serve in the Military during the war)
Where did you live during the war years?
with parents
Were you employed in any war-related industries? Yes
Company:
rent
No
own home
other:
Where (company and location)?
City:
Country:
What was your specific job(s) (i.e., welder, clerk, etc.)?
Did your company or institution do any classified or secret work for the military? Yes
No
If yes, please
give details:
Did you or your family participate in a civil defense unit? Yes
No
If yes, please give details:
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
Were you active in any volunteer organizations during the war? Yes
No
If yes, please list the name(s)
and activities:
1. Organization:
Activity:
2. Organization:
Activity:
3. Organization:
Activity:
Were you unable to enlist in the military? Yes
No
If yes, why? (i.e., age, nationality):
POSTWAR EXPERIENCES
Did you continue your education after the war? Yes
No
If yes, where and what degree(s) attained:
1. College/University:
Degree/Specialization attained:
2. College/University:
Degree/Specialization attained:
Occupational History (Please list by date, in reverse chronological order, including positions held):
1. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
2. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
3. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
4. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
5. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
6. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
SPOUSE (IF APPLICABLE)
Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
/
City of Birth:
Country
Elementary School – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
High School – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
City:
Technical/Professional School – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
City:
Undergraduate – name(s), location(s), and years of attendance:
1. School:
Major(s) field of study:
Athletic Teams:
Clubs:
City:
Country:
Attended from
-
Country:
Attended from
-
2. School:
City:
Major(s) field of study:
Athletic Teams:
Clubs:
Occupational History (Please list by date, in reverse chronological order, including positions held):
1. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
-
Position:
2. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
3. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
4. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
5. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
6. Company:
Worked from (yyyy)
Date of Marriage:
/
/
City:
Country:
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.
CHILDREN (IF APPLICABLE)
Number of children
Please give names of your children, date of birth, level of education attained. Please also
include name of school(s) and date of degree(s), if possible:
1. Child's Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Highest level of education:
Year of Graduation:
2. Child's Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
Year of Graduation:
4. Child's Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
/
School of Graduation:
Degree attained:
Year of Graduation:
5. Child's Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
/
/
School of Graduation:
Degree attained:
Year of Graduation:
6. Child's Name:
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Highest level of education:
/
School of Graduation:
Degree attained:
Highest level of education:
/
Year of Graduation:
3. Child's Name:
Highest level of education:
/
School of Graduation:
Degree attained:
Highest level of education:
/
School of Graduation:
Degree attained:
Highest level of education:
/
/
/
School of Graduation:
Degree attained:
Year of Graduation:
You may use the reverse side of this survey to list additional children
Did any of your children serve in the military? Yes
No
If yes, please list dates, service branch, where
stationed, etc.:
1. Child’s Name:
Branch:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
/
- End
Station:
/
Use this space for additional details on service:
2. Child’s Name:
Branch:
Dates: Start (mm/yyyy)
/
- End
Station:
/
Use this space for additional details on service:
Eastword is a not-for-profit corporation and does not sell or redistribute articles or oral histories. All rights remain
with the authors, interviewees and translators.