ABSTRACT
Oral history best practices state that the interview is a collaborative work between the interviewer and the narrator, with the narrator as the primary creator and the interviewer as the guide. The interviewer's position may seem somewhat unimportant but in fact, this role requires a great many skills—in subject expertise, interviewing techniques and listening. The practice of oral history not only helps fill gaps in the historical record, but creates and strengthens connections between the university and the community. Oral history projects can create safe spaces for narrators to reflect on the contributions that they have made. The time, energy, and money expended on an oral history project depends on how many people are interviewed, the topics discussed in the interviews, and how this material will be used in the future. The interview serves as the natural bridge with the community and best illustrates the collaboration that is occurring between the town and the gown.
