America 250
Communities Doing History
Oral History Workshop
Are you interested in preserving the memories, stories, and traditions of your family? To celebrate the 250th year anniversary of our nation, we want to inspire you to conduct oral histories with members of your family. As key sources of history, culture, and tradition, you can preserve their firsthand knowledge and experiences.
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026 Time: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Why Family Oral Histories Matter
Our ORAL HISTORY WORKSHOP will give you information and guidance on interviewing and recording your family.
- Collecting family oral histories help preserve the memory and wisdom of our elders and sheds light on daily life of our ancestors and key moments in a person’s personal history.
- Oral histories allow for personal details such as feelings and situational specifics to provide context for events and help fill in the gaps of the written record.
- It’s an opportunity to connect with your own past. Understanding more about the life of an elder family member can help you understand your own identity.
- Oral histories offer a voice to individuals whose stories may not otherwise be recorded in history.
Workshop Topics
- Planning your project
- Ethics, obligations, and principles of good interviewers
- What to do to prepare for the interview
- What research should you do prior to the interview
- Preparing question outlines
- How to frame your questions and generate follow-up questions
- Use photos and documents to help them tell their story
- Preserving your work for your family and the archives
- How to record your interview
- Setting requirements
- Equipment requirements
- Lighting and audio suggestions
- Sample setup using a smartphone
- Storage options
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Place: P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center, 13912 W. Camelback Rd
Celebrate our nation's 250th birthday by exploring your family history.
We Can Help
Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to schedule their interview using the PW Litchfield Heritage Center Oral History equipment, videographer, interviewer, and additional video editing.
We encourage younger members of the family to participate. Teens interviewing their grandparents help new generations connect to family traditions.
Great oral history interviews don’t just happen. They take thoughtful preparation. Our ORAL HISTORY WORKSHOP will give you information and guidance on interviewing and recording your family.
Workshop Sign Up
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Enrichment Class – Oral History Workshop
Price range: $15.00 through $20.00
