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''History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.''(Kurt Vonnegut)<br> | ''History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.''(Kurt Vonnegut)<br> | ||
Recording Personal Histories from Friends and Relatives You may have relatives or friends whose life story you’d love to have. You may feel that their stories, as well as your own should be given to your descendents. If your parents or grandparents haven’t written theirs yet, you’ll certainly want to get them too. <br>However, as much you try to encourage them to write their personal histories, they may not be very willing to do so. Interviewing them with a voice recorder or camcorder may be your only option. <br>I would very much encourage you to use some kind of digital camcorder rather than just recording the voice. With a video recording, you can include pictures, old family films, voice recordings of other people, background music and even narration if you want. | Recording Personal Histories from Friends and Relatives You may have relatives or friends whose life story you’d love to have. You may feel that their stories, as well as your own should be given to your descendents. If your parents or grandparents haven’t written theirs yet, you’ll certainly want to get them too. | ||
<br>However, as much you try to encourage them to write their personal histories, they may not be very willing to do so. Interviewing them with a voice recorder or camcorder may be your only option. | |||
<br>I would very much encourage you to use some kind of digital camcorder rather than just recording the voice. With a video recording, you can include pictures, old family films, voice recordings of other people, background music and even narration if you want. <br> | |||
Here are some do’s and don’ts on the recording of personal histories either for yourself or others. These ideas also apply if you are using a camcorder. | Here are some do’s and don’ts on the recording of personal histories either for yourself or others. These ideas also apply if you are using a camcorder. | ||
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=== Before the Interview === | === Before the Interview === | ||
When making arrangements for the interview, let the person know what time period or what subjects you will cover but not in detail. This preparations allows the mind to start searching its memory banks to get memories a little closer to the surface. <br>Be careful not to give them the exact questions you’ll be asking. Giving them the questions ahead of time has a tendency to reduce spontaneity and create set answers. <br>You’ll want to capture other memories that are almost always triggered by spontaneous responses. Besides, it is fun to watch the person’s eyes as the memories start to come back. | When making arrangements for the interview, let the person know what time period or what subjects you will cover but not in detail. This preparations allows the mind to start searching its memory banks to get memories a little closer to the surface. | ||
<br>Be careful not to give them the exact questions you’ll be asking. Giving them the questions ahead of time has a tendency to reduce spontaneity and create set answers. | |||
<br>You’ll want to capture other memories that are almost always triggered by spontaneous responses. Besides, it is fun to watch the person’s eyes as the memories start to come back. | |||
=== Know Your Equipment === | === Know Your Equipment === | ||
*Know your equipment well and make sure it is working that day. There is nothing more unnerving to your interviewee, than seeing you fumble with your machine trying to figure out why it is not working.<br> | *Know your equipment well and make sure it is working that day. There is nothing more unnerving to your interviewee, than seeing you fumble with your machine trying to figure out why it is not working.<br> | ||
*Have extra disks. Make sure you have extras batteries, if you will not have power available. <br> | *Have extra disks. Make sure you have extras batteries, if you will not have power available. <br><br> | ||
*Use headphones that plug into the recorder so you can to listen to see if the machine is receiving the voice of your interviewee. You will know extreme frustration, if you have had a wonderful interview and then find the machine was not recording correctly or the volume was so low that you can’t hear anything. | *Use headphones that plug into the recorder so you can to listen to see if the machine is receiving the voice of your interviewee. You will know extreme frustration, if you have had a wonderful interview and then find the machine was not recording correctly or the volume was so low that you can’t hear anything. | ||
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=== Where To Record === | === Where To Record === | ||
*First of all, try to record in the person’s own home. They will feel much more at ease than in a recording studio.<br> | *First of all, try to record in the person’s own home. They will feel much more at ease than in a recording studio.<br><br> | ||
*Next, select a quiet room to record in. Keep away from the front of the house where the street is. Stay away from rooms where the TVs or a radio is playing. Keep away from the kitchen where appliances can come on at any time. Keep windows closed to keep out noises from the neighbors. <br> | *Next, select a quiet room to record in. Keep away from the front of the house where the street is. Stay away from rooms where the TVs or a radio is playing. Keep away from the kitchen where appliances can come on at any time. Keep windows closed to keep out noises from the neighbors. <br><br> | ||
*And have a couple of comfortable chairs facing each other to sit on. | *And have a couple of comfortable chairs facing each other to sit on. | ||
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Set up your recording machine as soon as you arrive. Don’t engage in small talk before you turn on the machine. There may be some things in the small talk that should be recorded.<br>To start, put the person at ease by asking some opened ended questions like: “ | Set up your recording machine as soon as you arrive. Don’t engage in small talk before you turn on the machine. There may be some things in the small talk that should be recorded.<br>To start, put the person at ease by asking some opened ended questions like: “ | ||
*”How are you feeling today?” | *”How are you feeling today?” | ||
*” Have you been looking forward to this?” | *” Have you been looking forward to this?” | ||
*“Are you nervous?” | *“Are you nervous?” | ||
*”Do you have any questions before we start?” | *”Do you have any questions before we start?” | ||