Access - This can refer to the formats in which the recorded interviews are available (i.e. physical, virtual, transcript). It can also refer to the permissions to use the interviews, whether in part or full publication. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Anonymous - In oral history, the “anonymous” title is given when the narrator’s identity cannot be determined through identifiable information. This is not in reference to a narrator’s decision to retract their name or use a pseudonym. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Archives - There are three possible references for an “archive”: an organization that collects and maintains historical documents and records, the records themselves, or the physical space where the records are stored. Oral history recordings are generally stored and maintained in an archive or other repositories. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Confidential - If the narrator does not want certain information to be disclosed, they have the right and should feel empowered to ask about restriction options. It is the oral historian’s responsibility to protect confidential information and ensure that it cannot be publicly accessed by unauthorized parties. In some cases, these restrictions can last for a certain period of time; the narrator and oral historian can decide on this together (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Copyright - The rights to use, distribute, and profit from an original work or form of intellectual property. In most cases, oral history interviews are considered the narrator’s intellectual property, which makes them the legal owner or co-owner of the copyright. Copyright ownership begins once the recording starts. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Creative Commons license - A license that is used to define how the narrator, the main copyright holder, would like the general public to make use of their oral history interview and its related materials. (Definition adapted from the he Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Deed of gift - A legal release form that gives the institution managing the collection permission to have and use the interview. Components include a brief description of the project, a donor agreement, a transfer of copyright, and a statement about future use of the interview, such as details on any restrictions the narrator may request regarding public access and use. As it is a donation, there is no monetary compensation. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Formal agreement - Oral history interviews often involve signed formal agreements or release forms that specify how the interview may be accessed or used. Examples include deeds of gift and Creative Commons licenses. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Identifiable information - Information provided during an oral history interview that could be used to identify the narrator, including name or date of birth. The OHA offers this disclaimer: “Narrators [should] bear in mind that oral history interviews often gather comprehensive narratives about the narrator’s experiences and life story that could be recognized by others.” (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Informed consent - To ensure transparency throughout the interview process, the interviewer must provide the narrator with as much information as possible. This agreement, documented in writing or verbally, should include information regarding interview logistics (approximate length, type of recording, potential topics or questions) and use after the interview is complete (storage location, whether it will be transcribed, potential use in a public setting). This information is necessary as it can affect the narrator’s decision to participate in the oral history project. Copyright information is not included. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs): An administrative ethics committee that oversees the rights and welfare of those participating in human subject research (in this case, the narrator being interviewed). As of 2019, oral history research is no longer required to be reviewed by the IRB because it “preserves the unique perspective of an individual and [does] not lead to systematic generalizable knowledge.” (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary). For more information, see the Oral History Association: Information about IRBs and Institutional Review Boards and Oral History: An Update.
Interviewer - The person conducting the oral history interview.
Interview log (also called time log or index) - A log of an interview’s contents that often looks similar to a table of contents. The complete interview is broken into small sections and summarized. Each summary is documented with its corresponding timestamp. This is different from a word-for-word transcript, but is still a good resource for researchers and other users. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Living human subjects - The living individuals who are asked to participate in research projects by providing personal information or recollections that help researchers or scholars understand a broader topic. This term is often used by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). In oral history, the narrator would be considered the living human subject. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Narrator - The person being interviewed. While some might use the term “interviewee,” the OHA prefers the term “narrator,” as it gives those who are interviewed more agency. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Oral history - A historical research method that collects and preserves a person’s life history, memories, or firsthand accounts of an event. They are conducted through audio or video recordings. (Definition adapted from the Society of American Archivist's Dictionary of Archives Terminology)
Permission to use - An agreement that defines how certain parties can make use of an oral history. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Privacy - This refers to the protection of a narrator’s private information from unauthorized parties. Interviewers must provide narrators with a clear understanding of what access to their interviews, as well as any corresponding materials, will look like. Data privacy standards have changed over the years, but interviewers and anyone storing the interviews should take the necessary steps to ensure all materials and files are protected from possible unauthorized uses. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Private information - Sometimes a narrator may share information they do not want to be recorded or made available to others. The narrator should always feel comfortable and empowered to ask the interviewer to pause the recording or redact private information that has already been shared. This is important as it allows the narrator to have autonomy over their story. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Pseudonym - A fictitious name that can be used if the narrator does not want to use their real name. In such a case, the oral historian should use the fictitious name in all instances, including the interview, transcripts, finding aids, time logs, and publications. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Public domain - Creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws, including copyright and trademark. They can be used by anyone without permission. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Repository - A physical or digital location that permanently stores valuable files or records, including oral history recordings and transcripts. Examples include libraries or archives. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Restrictions - The limitations placed on the use or access of an interview. This might include a restriction on public access for a certain period of time, or online vs. physical access to the interview. For example, some narrators may feel comfortable participating in the project, but may not want their interview published on a website. All restrictions should be detailed in the deed of gift. It is also important to refer to the policies of the institution or archive that will store the interview. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Terms - This refers to the terms of agreement regarding the use of oral history interviews. This can include restrictions on public access for a certain period of time. (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)
Transcript - The text of an oral history interview, typed out word-for-word. Though it is time-consuming (it can take approximately 10 hours to transcribe an hour long interview) and expensive to transcribe, the final product makes it easier to access information within the interview. Changes to interview content should not be made when transcribing. For instance, the narrator’s grammar or use of slang should be documented accurately. (Definition adapted from the Society of American Archivist's Dictionary of Archives Terminology)
Transfer of copyright - This statement transfers all property rights to the institution or organization holding the interview, and is generally included in the deed of gift. By signing this statement, the narrator gives the institution the right to reproduce, prepare a derivative work (such as a transcript), and publicly display the interview in other forms (such as an exhibit or documentary). (Definition adapted from the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Practices Glossary)