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Veterans History Project
Scheduling an Interview
With an Interested Veteran/Civilian (current as of: 2/6/2006) Oral history is a valuable tool
for documenting first-hand information about the past. With some preparation,
conducting interviews, or oral histories, is rewarding. The purpose of the
Jackson County Historical Society in collaborating with the Library of
Congress on the Veterans History Project is to collect first-hand experiences
of veterans and civilians living in the Kansas City metropolitan area who
have witnessed a time when America has been involved in a war or military
conflict. The success of this project is
reliant completely on volunteer efforts: volunteers who step forward desiring
to be interviewed AND volunteers like you who are willing to meet with
them, with camcorder OR audiocassette tape recorder in hand. Prospective interviewers may
wish to attend a one-time, 1-hour workshop prior to scheduling appointments
with veterans/civilians. Workshops discuss the Veterans History Project and
tips on producing more effective interviews. Click here for upcoming Veterans
History Project workshops The following list is provided
exclusively to volunteers interested in working with the Jackson County
Historical Society and Americans Remembered, Inc., on gathering interviews of
veterans and civilians for the Veterans History Project. The list is compiled
from referrals that have come from a variety of sources, including veterans
themselves and/or their family members. Every effort is made to provide
interviewers with accurate veteran/civilian contact information. Please notify us as soon as you discover a
necessary update. 1)
Request an individualized interview packet for use in preparing for
and executing your Veterans History Project interview. 2)
Select an individual from the following list. 3)
Make contact ONLY when you are prepared to
schedule an interview appointment. Explain that you
received their name and number from the Jackson County Historical Society and
understand they may wish to be interviewed for the Veterans History
Project. Schedule an appointment convenient to both parties. 4)
As soon as an appointment has been made (or if the
contact declines), contact us at 816.252.7454 (or e-mail) to remove the person from this
list to prevent another prospective interviewer from duplicating your
efforts. 5)
Have fun with your interview! Record your dialogue
either on video or standard-size audiocassette tape. [Do NOT use a
mini-cassette audio tape recorder because of its inferior recording quality.
Videos recorded in any other format than VHS or 8mm must be converted to VHS
before submitting.] 6)
Submit the tape and proper paperwork to the
Jackson County Historical Society as soon as possible after the interview so
we may make a copy for the veteran and get the information posted with the
Library of Congress. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your participation in the
Veterans History Project! We would like your feedback, so please let us know how we
may make this process easier, smoother, and more friendly. Please
patronize Something Different Video,
who is working with the Historical Society on many of the technological
aspects of the Veterans History Project, and has extended to the Historical
Society gracious in-kind gifts. We appreciate their commitment to helping to
make the Veterans History Project in the Kansas City metropolitan area a huge
success!
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