Participate in the Oral History Project
Build a connection between generations of a community while helping to preserve wartime documents and stories by participating in the Oral History Project!
The interviews, personal narratives, photographs and other documents collected at Park Tudor School may not only be archived in the Library of Congress as a part of the Veterans Oral History Project, but and may potentially also be included in future Legacy Initiative publications.
For more information about how to conduct an interview and compose a historical narrative, read the For Interviewers section.
For more information about how to share your wartime story or that of a friend or relative, read the For Interviewees section.
For Interviewers
For a comprehensive guide on how to conduct an interview and compose a historical narrative, download the Oral History Project Manual—an instructional text compiled by Legacy Initiative Director Kathryn Lerch for use in her freshman history classes at Park Tudor School.
Previous Manual and Resources
Oral History Project Manual Parts I-III |
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Click the icon to download a PDF.
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| Oral History Project Introduction |  |
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| Part I: Conducting the Interview | |
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| Part II: Creating Your Primary Document | |
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| Part III: Turning the Transcript into an Essay | |
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Oral History Project ResourcesForms, Examples, and Resources Referenced in the OHP Manual |
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Click the icon to download a PDF or Word document.
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| For the Interview | |||
| Forms Checklist and Examples | |
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| Library of Congress Veteran’s Release Form | |
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| LOC Veteran Biographical Data Form | |
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| LOC Interviewer’s Release Form | |
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| LOC Audio/Video Recording Log | |
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| LOC Photograph Log | |
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| LOC Manuscript Data Sheet | |
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| Park Tudor Interviewee’s Informed Consent | |
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| For the Transcription Process | |||
| Transcript Template |  |
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| Commonly Misspelled Terms - WWII | |
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| Commonly Misspelled Terms - Korea & Later | |
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| Interviewee Permission Letter Example | |
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| For Historical Research | |||
| Research Tactics | |
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| Punch List and Researching Transcript Terms | |
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| Punch List Sample 1 | |
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| Punch List Sample 2 | -- | ||
| Research Links | |||
| For the Oral History Essay | |||
| Overview of the Oral History Essay | -- | ||
| Guide for Transforming Transcript into Essay | |
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| Essay Template | -- | ||
| Sample Essay Components | |
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| Working with Endnotes | -- | ||
| Bibliography Example | -- | ||
| You are your own best CRITIC | -- | ||
| For the Power Point Presentation | |||
| Oral History Power Point Presentation Guidelines | |
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For Interviewees
While it may often be difficult to talk about wartime experiences, these memories are unique and significant to our past and sharing them will no doubt benefit generations to come. As such, the Park Tudor Legacy Initiative aims to collect, archive and share such wartime stories to ensure they are never forgotten.
Eligibility
| 1. | The Legacy Initiative partners with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project to collect and archive first-hand accounts of U.S. veterans and the civilians (war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) who supported them in these wars: | |
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| As a part of the Veterans History Project, a digital recording and transcript of each interview conducted with these U.S. veterans and civilians will be archived in the in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. These stories are made available to researchers and the general public both at the Library in Washington, D.C. and via the Veterans History Project website. | ||
| 2. | The Legacy Initiative also welcomes interviews from any of these other groups: | |
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| 3. | Any interviews collected by the Legacy Initiative are eligible for inclusion in the next volume of the Words of War anthology. |
About the Interview
If you or someone you know is interested in sharing a wartime experience, please feel welcome to contact Mrs. Kathryn Lerch, the director of the Legacy Initiative. She or one of the Legacy Initiative students will arrange to meet you in person or contact you by phone (if long distance) to conduct the interview, which usually lasts between 45 and 90 minutes.
Kathryn Lerch
(317) 415-2880
Park Tudor School
Legacy Initiative
7200 North College Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46240
Sample Interview Questions
What We Offer Interviewees
- An opportunity to share their story through a digital recording (in person or by phone, if long distance) or through a video filmed at Park Tudor School
- A transcript of the interview
- A digital recording (CD with audio files or DVD) of the interview, if requested
- Scanning and archiving of photos, letters, diaries, etc. onto CDs (also see the Donate Materials page)
- For interviewees whose stories are published in our anthology Words of War, a copy of the book and recognition at book signing events