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Capturing Arizona's Stories

Capturing Arizona's Stories aims to introduce Arizonans to oral histories and promote their use in the community. Oral history and storytelling programs can help create individual and community relationships through the learning and sharing of experiences.

To keep Arizona's oral record alive, the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (ASLAPR) has teamed up with 10 libraries from around the state to set up community oral history projects and collect the results as part of the centennial celebration. This project is generously funded by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant.

Capturing Arizona's Stories is funded by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records. For further information about LSTA grants please visit http://www.lib.az.us/lsta/.

List of Participating Libraries

Frequently Asked Questions

Further Resources

Materials Available for Download

Participating Libraries

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I begin an interview?
A. The best way to start an interview is at the beginning: the interviewee’s birthplace and childhood. From there, the interviewer can move the interview chronologically as he/she sees fit.

Q. What if we want to take pictures or video of the subject?
A. Pictures and video are fine for future projects, but for Capturing Arizona’s Stories, we recommend sticking to audio only. The reason for this is that there is an added legal obligation when capturing video or obtaining photographs. Additionally, when setting up an interview, the subject may be more reluctant to speak if there is the added element of video and/or photography.

Q. What are the procedures for interviewing multiple subjects?
A. Ideally, we recommend that the interview be one-on-one. However, in circumstances where it is necessary to interview multiple subjects, be conscious of future listeners/readers/transcribers. Have the interviewees introduce themselves for the ease of the transcriber/listener. Also, it is advisable to state the person’s name when switching focus to a different interviewee.

Q. How do I handle "fidgeters"?
A. The best way is to give them something silent to keep their hands busy and away from objects that can make noise. One idea is to hand them colored pipe cleaners found in craft stores. This allows the “fidgeter” to have something to play with that is completely silent.

Further Resources

Arizona Memory Project
The Arizona Memory Project is an online effort to provide access to the wealth of primary sources in Arizona libraries, archives, museums and other cultural institutions. All Capturing Arizona’s Stories interview transcripts will be a part of this collection.

H-Oralhist
H-Oralhist is a network for scholars and professionals active in studies related to oral history. The primary purpose of H-Oralhist is to enable oral historians more easily to discuss research interests, current projects, teaching methods and the state of historiography in the field.

Oral History Association
The Oral History Association, established in 1966, seeks to bring together all persons interested in oral history as a way of collecting and interpreting human memories to foster knowledge and human dignity. The Oral History Association offers a rich variety of resources for those interested in every facet of doing, promoting, researching, collecting, and preserving oral history.

Materials Available for Download

Sample Interview Outline

Digital Recorder Guide

Marantz Recorder User Guide

Oral History Release Form

Presentations:
   What is Oral History?
   The Interview
   Preservation and Beyond

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