During the summer of 2020, the Boston Research Center launched an oral history initiative to help local community members preserve their personal histories. As we worked through process, we decided to create an oral history toolkit to serve as a comprehensive guide for those interested in starting their own projects.

This toolkit offers best practices, tips, and tools to help you plan and implement your own oral history project. While this document was initially developed for members of the Boston Public Library community engaged in collaborative oral history, it was also designed to guide aspiring oral historians of varying experience levels. This toolkit also includes information for participants, as well as a release form and other documentation materials necessary to an oral history project.

Note that there is no one-size-fits all approach to oral history; flexibility is key as you approach your project. As such, this toolkit should be considered a handy guide, and not a stringent set of rules. Click the link below to access the toolkit:

Oral History Toolkit