Perspectives on Science DHST Early Career Scholars Workshop #2: Best Practice in Oral History Interview and Analysis
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Jul 31, 2025 David Zierler, the Ronald and Maxine Linde Director of the Caltech Heritage Project, shares his extensive experience in oral history, highlighting its role in human connection. Sara Baum, an oral history transcription specialist, discusses best practices in managing and transcribing interviews. They explore the advantages and biases of oral history, effective technologies, and the workflow from recording to transcription. Zierler also shares insights from compiling oral histories for institutional history projects, showcasing how they help preserve valuable narratives.
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Human Connection Is The Method's Core
- Oral history's core strength is establishing a human connection between interviewer and subject.
- Genuine curiosity from the interviewer produces the most revealing and useful conversations.
Prepare Themes, Embrace Meandering
- Come thematically prepared but stay open to unexpected directions in the conversation.
- Let the interview meander because surprises often yield the richest material.
Accidental Start Led To A Career
- David discovered oral history by chance while researching Agent Orange for his dissertation and began recording scientists.
- That accidental start launched a long career conducting hundreds of interviews and institutional projects.