5 Interview Guide

“Subject: UB Stories: 100th anniversary oral history project 

I am [your name]. I am a student at the University of Baltimore and a member of the oral history project team at Special Collections and Archives. 

Thank you for agreeing to participate in an oral history interview. I am reaching out to set up a date and time for your interview, as well as give you some information you might find useful as you prepare for your interview. 

Please suggest a couple of times and dates that work for you. Our interviews will be conducted online through Zoom’s video conferencing platform. All you need is a webcam, microphone, and high speed internet on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Additionally, earbuds with built-in microphones or external headphones would be ideal. If you do not have access to this equipment, please let me know. The link to our Zoom meeting will be sent to you once we finalize the date and time of the interview. We will record both the audio and video during your interview (unless you do not want us to record the video).

In advance of the formal interview, we can do the following:

• Confirm that the internet connection is strong, and that the interview conversation will go smoothly.
• Make sure that there are no background noise sources that might disrupt the interview.
• Consider how to get the best picture possible by changing computer camera positioning, moving distracting background objects, or considering the available light sources.

I’ve attached a list of questions that I will use for your interview. We conduct interviews in chronological order, starting with personal background information, where you have worked, why you became interested in working at UB, etc. It may take between 60 and 90 minutes to conduct the interview.

Additionally, we’d like to have a recent photo of you to use for this project’s online exhibit. 

Please find attached the Informed Consent and Deed of Gift Agreement forms to sign before the interview. You may choose to sign the Deed of Gift form after the interview. 

There are two options for you to digitally sign the documents for us. 

• E-signature in Adobe Acrobat. If you are not familiar with this service please let me know that I can provide you with instructions.
• You can print and sign the form, then generate an image of the signed form and return it to me via email. 

Your interview will be transcribed and you’ll get the chance to edit the transcription before it’s posted online at Special Collections and Archives Exhibit website. In the meantime, you can explore the other oral history project that was conducted between 1971-1983 at the University of Baltimore. 

Thanks again for agreeing to participate in this project. Your insights will enhance our knowledge of our institution’s history, and we truly appreciate you being a part of it.

We look forward to hearing your story.

Let me know if you have any questions, and we will continue our discussion via email or you can call me at …”^[1]

ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW INFORMED CONSENT FORM

UB Stories: 100th anniversary oral history project

1. You are being asked to participate in an interview in connection with UB Stories: 100th anniversary oral history project because you are a part of a list of individuals important to and knowledgeable of the history of the University of Baltimore over the past several decades. You will be asked about your life and experience as a faculty or staff working at the University of Baltimore.
2. The interview will be digitally recorded, transcribed, published online, and made available for public and scholarly use at the University of Baltimore. Any member of the general public will have access to this interview and your words may be quoted in scholarly and popular publications.
3. The interview will take approximately 60 to 90 minutes. It will include video, audio, and transcript recorded through Zoom platform. There are no anticipated risks to participation in this interview. However, you can withdraw from the interview at any time without prejudice prior to the execution and delivery of a deed of gift (see the attached form). You will also have the opportunity to make special provisions or restrictions in the deed of gift. During the interview you may request to stop the recording at any time to discuss or clarify how you wish to respond to a question or topic before proceeding. In the event that you choose to withdraw during the interview, any recording made of the interview will be either given to you or destroyed, and no transcript will be made of the interview. With your permission, a photograph of you will be used if you provide it. If you withdraw from the project, any digital files regarding your interview will be destroyed.
4. Upon completion of the interview and signing the deed of gift, the digital recording and content of the interview will belong to the University of Baltimore Special Collections and Archives, and the information in the interview can be utilized by the University of Baltimore Special Collections and Archives in any manner it will determine including but not limited to future use by researchers in presentations and publications.
5. If you have any questions about the project or procedures, you can contact ………….., Project Investigator at ………. , phone number: ……, or email: ………

Interviewer signature ____________________________________________

I agree to participate in this interview.

Interviewee Printed Name _____________________________________

Interviewee signature ______________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

Phone number ________________________________

Date  ___/___/_____^[2]

ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW DEED OF GIFT

I, ______________________________________, hereby give my permission to the University of Baltimore (UB) Special Collections and Archives for scholarly and educational to use the video recordings, and all associated audio and text files, from the interview(s) conducted on _________________and the photograph sent on _____________________. I also grant the University of Baltimore’s Special Collections and Archives all the rights I possess in those recordings, including all intellectual property rights.

I understand that I am conveying all right, title, and interest in copyright to the University. I understand that the UB may post online the material in whole or in part for additional educational, non-commercial purposes.I understand that UB grants me a nonexclusive license to utilize my interview/s.

I agree to be identified by name in any transcript or reference to any information contained in this interview.

The foregoing gift and grant of rights is subject to the following restrictions:

__________________________________________________________________________

This agreement may be revised or amended by mutual consent of the parties undersigned.

Accepted by:

___________________________________________ Date_______________________ Project Investigator

____________________________________________ Date ______________________ Interviewer Signature

____________________________________________ Date ______________________ Interviewee Signature

____________________________________________________

Interviewee Street/PO Box Address

City _______________ State _____________Zip Code ___________ Phone Number ________________^[3]

Full Name of Interviewer: 

Full Name of Interviewee:

Date of Birth ____________Place of Birth____________ 

Interviewee occupation: 

Interviewee Ethnicity:

Interview Date:

Interview Location:

Filename of the interview:

Approximate length of interview:

Summary of the Interview: 

Notes

Add any additional notes, such as an explanation of specialized terms, correct spelling of names or places, any idiomatic words/phrases that you think the researcher might have difficulty understanding, or important themes or contextual information.^[5]

Dear…, 

Thank you very much for your participation in the UB Stories: 100th anniversary oral history project. Interviews with you and other University staff and faculty will contribute to the University’s documented history.

We are currently transcribing and editing your interview. Once this work is completed, you will have the chance to review it and make revisions before the transcript becomes available on our website.

Once again, we are grateful for your contribution.^[6]