Oral History Kits
Program Summary
Archives and Special Collections (ASC) at the MSU Library now offers Oral History Kits, which are available for check out by MSU students and scholars. They provide professional audio and video recording equipment that oral historians can use in the field. In addition to equipment, ASC also provides in-person training in oral history best practices and equipment setup, a digital copy of the "MSU Archives and Special Collection Oral History Handbook," and the opportunity to preserve the finished recordings and transcripts in our collections.
Equipment
ASC has one video and two audio-only kits available for check out. Kits can be checked out for one or two weeks at a time, depending on project needs. Duration of the checkout will be determined in conversation with an archivist in ASC.
Kits include:
Audio Kit (2 kits available) |
Video Kit (1 kit available) |
| Zoom H4N Portable Audio Recorder | Canon Vixia HF G70 Video Camera |
| Stand Microphones | Lapel Microphone and Receiver/Transmitter Pack |
| Headphones | Shotgun Microphone |
| SD Card | Headphones |
| External Hard Drive | Tripod |
| Extra Batteries | SD Card |
| External Hard Drive |
Reach out to ASC to check out a kit. Include "Oral History Kit" in the subject line and share a little information about the oral history project you will be creating. An archivist will reach out to schedule a time for you to pick up the kit in Archives and Special Collections.
If this is your first time conducting and oral history, you must first complete the ASC Oral History Kit training sessions (see below).
Training and Resources
ASC offers two in-person oral history trainings and a digital copy of the "MSU Archives and Special Collections Oral History Handbook" as a reference guide. In addition to the in-person trainings, the handbook provides guidance on interviewing strategies, audio and video editing, and transcript creation. Participants who need help with editing the final oral histories can schedule an appointment with an ASC archivist for step-by-step guidance. These resources are designed to assist participants in creating professional-quality oral histories that can be preserved in perpetuity within an archive.
Training Session 1 |
Training Session 2 |
| Oral History best practices | Hands-on practice with equipment |
| Permissions and release forms | Record sample interviews |
| Preservation standards | Troubleshooting and FAQ |
No previous oral history experience is required for participation in the program, but ASC requires completion of both Training Session 1 and Training Session 2 for first-time oral historians who wish to participate in the program.
Stewardship
ASC offers participants the opportunity to preserve their oral histories at MSU Library. Oral histories that are archived with ASC will be made accessible online through the library's digital collections. Participants will be listed as creators in the digital collection to document their contributions and serve as a professional product they can list in a CV or portfolio.
For examples of other oral history initiatives at the ASC, please explore the Angling Oral History Project, Constitutional Convention of 1972 Oral Histories, and Virginia City Players Oral Histories.
Teaching
Oral History Kits offer great opportunities for transformational learning. ASC will work with instructors to integrate the kits into research courses or independent research projects.
To inquire about incorporating Oral History Kits into your class, please be in touch!
Contact Us!
For more information about ASC's Oral History Kits please contact Heather Mulliner, Librarian and Archivist, at heather.mulliner@montana.edu or 406-994-4769.
Acknowledgements
ASC's Oral History Kits were made possible with a generous grant from the MSU Center for Faculty Excellence.