Before, during and after a conversation
A printable oral history interview checklist you can make your own.
Settle the practical details so there is more room to listen. Plan one conversation, mark the steps you have dealt with and keep open questions beside the next thing to do.
Twelve optional steps · Your own marks and notes · Text download · Blank or filled browser printing · No account
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A small plan, with room for the person
Start with the purpose, a comfortable setting and a few topics. If you choose to record, use your own separate equipment and agree on that before starting. During the conversation, allow time for pauses and uncertain details. Afterwards, check what you saved and discuss the narrator’s wishes before sharing it.
The Society of American Archivists interview checklist includes a shared topic outline, equipment checks and an identifying introduction. Loyola Marymount University’s interview guide adds patient listening, consideration for the interviewee’s time, checking and labeling a saved recording, and a thank-you. These are original MemoirWell steps for personal planning, rather than copies of either institution’s forms.
A fictional example
Jo and Sam agree to talk at the kitchen table for about half an hour. Sam marks the time and place step done, with a note: “Ask Jo whether the quieter room would be easier.” The recording choice stays unchecked until they have discussed it. A mark records Sam’s own progress; the note keeps the unresolved part visible.
Questions before, an index afterwards
Choose a few family interview question cards for the conversation. If you later listen to a recording you keep separately, the oral history interview log can help index its topics and recording points. Save each copy before leaving; these tools do not transfer notes automatically.
For the full words with speaker labels, use the oral history transcript worksheet. Save this page’s copy before moving to the other tool.
Before you save your checklist
Is this a free printable oral history interview checklist?
Yes. Print the blank checklist for handwriting, or mark steps and add notes first. All twelve steps remain on blank and filled copies, so the unmarked ones stay visible. Blank copies include space for notes beside each step. Filled copies have a compact checklist followed only by the notes you wrote, under their original step numbers.
Do I have to do every step or record the conversation?
No. Use the steps that fit your conversation. Leave a step unchecked or note why it is not needed. The checkbox is your own planning note; it does not verify arrangements, record consent or grant permission to share anyone’s words. This is not a consent form.
Does this page record, upload, transcribe or send anything?
No. This is a manual text checklist. There is no microphone or camera control, recording, upload, transcription, AI or sending. It does not test your equipment, back up a recording, contact the narrator or share a checklist for you.
Where are my marks and notes saved?
Only in this page’s memory. There is no account or autosave, and refreshing or closing clears the checklist. Download text or print before leaving. The text file keeps all twelve steps and your marks, with your notes exactly as entered. Saved TXT and PDF copies cannot be reopened here for editing.
How do Clear, Undo and longer printed notes work?
Clear this step asks first and clears only that step’s checkbox and notes. Undo restores both until you change the same step again or close the page. Editing another step or the identifying details keeps Undo available. Print or save PDF opens your browser’s dialog; browser-menu printing also works while editing. Choose Letter or A4 and check the preview. Long notes can continue onto additional pages.
Give one memory more room
Save your checklist first. MemoirWell’s separate guided interview can help develop your own memory into an AI-assisted draft chapter to check and edit. It does not import this checklist or a recording.
Start a free first chapterDownload or print your checklist before leaving this page.