This searches a special subset of Google to find place names, events, road names, people, or any keyword. If a word is used on the website or one of the genealogical databases it will pop up in the custom google search of just Snohomish County history websites including the extensive collections maintained by the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society, photographs from Monroe, the League’s Women’s Legacy Project.
We were at a history meeting recently and once again the subject of how to do oral interviews came up. The need for personal points of view on community, regional and national events add depth to our interpretation of our local historical places and biographies. As historians, we want to encourage oral histories as part our research but they are hard to arrange and it sometimes takes time to develop interviewing skills and relevant questions so the interviews stay focused.
There are a few books on the subject and there are more and more resources on the internet for suggestions. The most comprehensive book readily available is “Doing Oral History – A Practical Guide” by Donald A. Ritchie, available from both Everett and Sno-Isle Library systems.
The key points are to make sure you have permissions signed for the appropriate use of the interview, ie. can they be broadcast or published, used in exhibit captions, or just preserved. And in spite of new digital technologies, it is always preferable to transcribe them, a daunting task for the casual interviewer.
The following resources might be helpful -
–Karen Prasse, League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations