Building oral histories is a great way to decode and learn from your own past. But creating them doesn't require a film budget, great resources, or an incredibly dramatic family history. All it requires is a past to draw from. Below are some tips and tools to help you start the process of recording your own history for your benefit and for the benefit of future generations.

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1. Get Started >> Figure out the kind of oral history you want to do, develop goals, and create a preliminary list of resources, interviewees and official records.	2. Research >> Learn how research can be your greatest ally in conducting a successful interview.
3. Set up the Interviews >> Learn how to go about setting up and planning an interview.	4. Conduct a Successful Interview >> Access tips to help you make the most of your interviews.
5. Follow-up Interview >> If you think your job is over when the interview ends, think again!	6. Organize and Present >> Effectively organize and share your findingsŠand then send us an excerpt!
Send us >> excerpts of your final product so students across the country can experience a small part of the history you unearthed.