Collecting cultural stories with care

Listen without turning one account into everyone’s story

An interview can reveal how a person remembers an experience and what it means to them. As with other primary sources, it should be read in context and compared with additional evidence. The Library of Congress’s guidance on primary-source inquiry is useful for distinguishing what a source says, the questions it raises, and the inferences a researcher makes.

Plan consent and credit before recording

Explain the project, the intended audience, and how a recording or quotation may be used before an interview begins. Let the speaker decline questions or recording. Work through the school’s or organization’s approved process where young people are involved. Do not publish an interview or a participant’s personal details merely because a recording exists.

• Ask open questions about a specific event, place, or practice.
• Record the date and context, and keep the speaker’s words distinct from your summary.
• Verify factual claims separately and preserve disagreements honestly.
• Agree on quotation, editing, credit, and release permissions before sharing.