####################### Oral History Guidelines ####################### Guidelines to create metadata for oral histories and other interviews. **Reminders:** - These instructions are a sub-set of the full metadata guidelines but may not cover all options; be sure to look at help guides for individual fields to see additional examples and formatting guidelines - Occasionally, items may have project-specific exceptions to these rules - Institution and collection values will always be determined by administrators - Placeholder information is denoted by {{{3 brackets}}} which should be removed; other punctuation is intentional (examples show final formatting) - Note that oral histories are usually a specific type of interview, characterized by narrative responses about events in a person's past; information in this guide will generally apply to other kinds of question-and-answer or narrative interviews, but may need to be adjusted (title, description, subjects) to reflect the content ***** Title ***** .. note:: - Every interview should have one main title that describes interviewee(s) and date(s) - Only include information that is known (e.g., some interviews may not have a date) - More :doc:`Title ` formatting and examples Main Title ========== +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |Single interview/date: Oral History Interview with {{{name}}}, {{{month day}}}, {{{year}}} | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Leave out any unknown information | | Oral History Interview with William Webb | |- Do not include titles, nicknames, etc. (e.g., Dr.) | | Oral History Interview with Oscar Mauzy, July 24, 1968 | | | | Oral History Interview with Barney Christy, 1985 | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Multiple interviews/dates: Oral History Interviews with {{{name}}}, {{{year}}} (or {{{year - year}}}) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- As appropriate, represent multiple names, dates, etc. | | Oral History Interviews with George Clarence Moffett, 1965-1966 | |- Shorten dates (and names, if needed) to keep titles a | | Oral History Interviews with Sarah T. Hughes, 1969 | | reasonable length | | Oral History Interview with Katherine L. Lathrop and Paul V. | | | Harper, January 26, 1995 | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ Added Title =========== +-----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+=====================================================================+ |- If there are multiple interviews in a single bound | | Oral History Interview with George Clarence Moffett, May 3, 1965 | | transcript, add a separate title for each interview | | Oral History Interview with George Clarence Moffett, July 26, 1965| | | | Oral History Interview with George Clarence Moffett, July 1966 | +-----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Series Title ============ +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |- For some special projects, there may be be a series | | Business Archives Project | | title | | Green Pioneers in North Texas | | | | World War II Pearl Harbor Survivors Oral History Project | | | | Human Radiation Studies: Remembering the Early Years | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- In specific instances, this could also apply to archival| | | series | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ Other Titles ============ - When in doubt, do not include additional titles (see other title documentation for more information) - If names include organizational acronyms, it *may* be appropriate to include an alternate title (though generally the name should just be written out elsewhere in the record) ******************* Creator/Contributor ******************* .. note:: - Creators will be the interviewer(s) and interviewee(s) - When applicable, other persons/organizations involved may be listed as contributors (e.g., recording engineer, transcriber, translator, compiler, donor etc.) - Entries may only include a single name; for multiple names (e.g., two interviewers), you will need a separate entry for each name - Remember that a name can only be a creator **or** contributor (not both) - Every entry must include the role and type (person or organization); "organization" is rarely used in these cases, but could apply to a sponsor/funder/etc. for an oral history project in certain cases - More :doc:`Creator ` and :doc:`Contributor ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |Individual names (type = personal) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Format a personal name as: last, first middle |Bouldin, H. M. | |- Personal names **must** have a surname and should not be+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | included when unavailable (e.g., signed "Aunt Jennie" |Foster, Samuel B. | | with no additional information) +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Do not include titles (e.g., Rev.), degrees (e.g., |Bodansky, Meyer, 1896-1941 | | Ph.D.), etc. unless necessary to distinguish the person;+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | for married women, use the woman's name, if known |Carmean, E. A., Jr. | |- Use an authorized form of the name if available/relevant+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Other forms (e.g., abbreviations) can be added to "info"|Hunt, Mrs. Andrew | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |*Name:* James, Thomas Leroy | | | | | |*Info:* Thos. L. James | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Agency/organization names (type = organization) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Use an authorized form of the name if available/relevant|United States. Army. | |- Write out the name as it is written (e.g., in signature +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | line or letterhead) |Galveston Artillery Club | |- For organizations with divisions, list each part largest+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | to smallest, separated with periods |Committee for a National Trade Policy (U.S.) | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |Colombia. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ********* Publisher ********* .. note:: - Only used when the interview is formally published - More :doc:`Date ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |- For transcripts, use the printer/publisher that created| | *Name:* University of North Texas | | the bound/published version | | *Location:* Denton, Texas | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- For recordings, the organization that formally | | *Name:* St. David's Episcopal Church (Austin, Tex.) | | published and made publicly or commercially available) | | *Location:* Austin, Texas | | -- this is rare | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ************* Creation Date ************* .. note:: - More :doc:`Date ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |Use the date or the interview in the form YYYY-MM-DD |1968-07-24 | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |If there are multiple interviews in a single bound | | |transcript, only add a single creation date entry using one| | |of these formats: | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Use a less specific date (e.g., just YYYY-MM if there|1966-07 | | are multiple interviews in a single month) | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - If there are 2 or 3 dates, *especially separated by |{1974-12-31,1975-02-20} | | long periods of time*, they can be listed | | | individually with multiple date format: | | | {YYYY-MM-DD,YYYY-MM-DD} | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Use a range if there are a large number of dates, | | 1969-06/1969-08 | | or if multiple dates are too cumbersome, e.g., | | 1967/1969 | | YYYY-MM/YYYY-MM or YYYY/YYYY | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |If this is unknown, leave the creation date blank | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ******** Language ******** .. note:: - More :doc:`Language ` formatting and examples - Add language(s) written/spoken in the interview - Add multiple languages if needed ******************* Content Description ******************* .. note:: - Start the content description with "Interview with ... " - When important, other descriptive elements can be included at the start, e.g., "Photocopy of a transcript ..." or "Recording of an interview ..." - Most descriptions will be around 1-3 sentences - Adjust the description based on known information and type of content - More :doc:`Description ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |- Generally use the rough format: |Interview with former Democratic member of the Texas House of | | Interview with {{{name}}}, {{{a |Representatives DeWitt Hale, an attorney from Corpus Christi, | | profession/characteristics that define why they're being|Texas. The interview includes Hale's personal experiences as a | | interviewed}}} from {{{city, state}}}. {{{Brief details |member of the Sixty-first Legislature, as well as his views on | | summarizing the whole interview and highlighting |one-year versus two-year budgets, revenue bills, corporate income | | important parts.}}} |tax, welfare legislation, state minimum wage law, education | | |legislation, the creation of new four-year colleges, beer and | | |liquor lobbies, changes in state sales tax base, personal | |- Adjust the description to match the content if it does |legislation, redistricting, and the "one man, one vote" U.S. | | not fit in the rough format well. |Supreme Court decision. The interview also includes Hale's comments| | |on fellow politicians. | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |Interview with Cheryl Hall discussing her career writing for the | | |Dallas Morning News and her perspectives on the field of | | |journalism. Hall also talks about her childhood and family, as | | |well as her educational background. | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |Transcript of an interview with architect Kirk Teske discussing his| | |experience designing buildings, the shift toward sustainable | | |building and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) | | |certification, and the connection between design and health. | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ******************** Physical Description ******************** +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |Transcripts: # p. ; h cm. | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- List the number of pages (according to pagination and | | 64 p. ; 28 cm. | | height rounded up to next whole centimeter (cm.) | | 89, [4] p. : port., map ; 29 cm. | |- If pages are unnumbered, list the pages of *content* in | | [10] p. ; 28 cm. | | [square brackets] -- this also applies to unnumbered | | | sections or appendices | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |For recordings: | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- AUDIO: # sound recording(s) ([time]) : digital |1 sound recording (1 hr., 7 min.) : digital | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- VIDEO: # recording(s) ([time]) : sd., col. ; digital |1 video recording (28 min., 33 sec.) : sd., col. ; digital | | | | | - sd. for sound | | | - col. for color image (vs. b&w) | | | - digital (if born-digital; do not include if | | | digitized from tape) | | | | | |- *Note:* for [time], do not zero-pad (e.g., 05) or | | | include zero units (e.g., 0 min.) | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ******* Subject ******* .. note:: - 2 subject values (any type) are required for every record - 1 UNTL-BS term is required for all Portal/Gateway records - LCGFT terms are not required, but several are relevant to the format of oral histories (listed below) - Ideally, at least one subject should be added that is "more specific" to the individual item content - More :doc:`Subject ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |University of North Texas Libraries Browse Subjects (UNTL-BS) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Add a term for individuals, since these are personal |People - Individuals | | accounts | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Depending on the content, it may be appropriate to add | | Education - Colleges and Universities | | one or two additional UNTL-BS terms | | | | | Government and Law - Elected Officials - Senators | | | | | | | Social Life and Customs - Clubs and Organizations | | | | | | | Business, Economics and Finance - Medicine - Doctors | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Keywords (KWD) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Depending on the content, add one or two keywords that | | medical research | | are specific to the item | | |- Keywords should be lowercase and plural, unless they are| | anecdotes | | proper names | | | | | WWII | | | | | | | state legislatures | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Most of these genre/form terms are likely applicable | | Oral histories | | | | | | | Interviews | | | | | | | Personal Narratives | | | | | | | Autobiographies | | | | | | | Biographies | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Named Person (named_person) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Add the name of the interviewee, since the content is | | Creighton, Tom | | about their life/experiences | | | | | Saunders, Allan W. (Buck) | | | | | | | Stovall, Jesse F., Jr. | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- If the oral history talks about a major historical | | Prisoners of war | | event, especially war-related (e.g., Pearl Harbor, 9/11,| | | World War I, etc.), consider adding an appropriate term | | Vietnam War, 1961-1975 | | from this list, or from the LC authorities | | | | | Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941 | | - LCSH terms may need to be reformatted from the | | | version that displays in a library catalog, e.g., | | World War, 1939-1945 -- War work {note: "war work" is used for| | change em-dash to -- | war efforts on the homefront} | | - We do not include form subdivisions that overlap | | | with LCGFT (e.g., Oral history) | | Korean War, 1950-1953 | | - We do not include geographic subdivisions that | | | overlap with coverage (e.g., {topic} -- Texas -- | | Persian Gulf War, 1991 | | Denton or {topic} -- United States)| | | | | | September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001 | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ******** Coverage ******** .. note:: - Add information about the places/dates that the content is *about* - This will likely not match creation information - More :doc:`Coverage ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |Place Name | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- If relevant, add the place(s) that are discussed in the | | United States - Texas | | interview | | | | | India | |- Choose a place already on the list (usually the case) or| | | add new place name following appropriate formatting | | United States - Illinois - Cook County - Chicago | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Coverage Date | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Add a single coverage date entry for the date or date | | 1937/1970-01 | | range described in the content | | |- Formatting follows the same rules as the date field | | 2000-08 | | | | | | | 1937/1970-01 | | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Time Period | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- For Portal records, add relevant time period(s) that |mod-tim (Modern Times (1939-Present) | | correspond to the date(s) covered | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ******** Relation ******** .. note:: - Relationships only apply when we have multiple items in the Digital Collections that should be connected - If you are unsure whether this applies, look at the relation field guidelines for a description of the types of appropriate relations - More :doc:`Relation ` formatting and examples - For each entry, choose the appropriate relation type and add {{{title, ARK}}} for the *related item* - Relationships are reciprocal, so A >> B *and* B >> A - Here are examples of relations that may be applicable to oral histories: **Audio/video recording & typed transcript** +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Recording |*Has Transcription* |(points to typed |Oral History Interview with Arthur Oviedo, April 16, 2001, | | | |version) |`ark:/67531/metapth845116 | | | | |`_ | +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Typed version |*Is Transcription of*|(points to original|Oral History Interview with Arthur Oviedo, April 16, 2001, | | | |recording |`ark:/67531/metapth845079 | | | | |`_ | +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ **Audio and video recordings of the same interview** +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Video | *Has Format* |(points to |Interview with Dr. Walter Mignolo [audio], `ark:/67531/metadc307061| | | |audio) |`_ | +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Audio |*Is Format of* |(points to video) |Interview with Dr. Walter Mignolo [full video], | | | | |1948], `ark:/67531/metadc307063 | | | | |`_ | +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ - Occasionally, there may be multiple relationships among several versions, e.g., a video could "have format" (audio) and "have transcription" (text); the audio would "be format of" (video) and "have transcription" (text); the text would "be transcription of" (audio & video) - Other, lesser-used relationships (see guidelines): has version/is version of (i.e., multiple versions of the same content in the same format); has translation/is translation of (for multiple versions in different languages); is part/has part or based on/basis for (e.g., for a "full" version and a "partial" version or edited/summary version -- not for different parts in a series that have entirely different content) ************* Resource Type ************* .. note:: - More :doc:`Resoure Type ` formatting and examples - For text: book (if bound) or text (if < 50 p./not bound) - For recordings: sound or video ****** Format ****** .. note:: - More :doc:`Format ` formatting and examples - For printed transcripts: text - For sound recordings: audio - For video recordings: video ********** Identifier ********** .. note:: - These are the most commonly-used identifiers for oral histories; occasionally others may apply - More :doc:`Identifier ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |Local Accession/Control Number | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Use the value assigned by the partner | | OH_0030 | | | | | | | OHB_0096 | | | | | | | GPV_17_millican_reflections-02 | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Call Number | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- Some items, especially bound volumes, may have a |OH 657 | | separate call number (e.g., from a catalog record), if | | | so, include the value without the copy (e.g., c.2) | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |UNT Catalog Number | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |- For oral histories cataloged at UNT, you may include the|b3311416 | | record number (at the end of the record URL) | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ********** Collection ********** .. note:: - More :doc:`Collection ` information - Generally, the collection(s) should not be changed - *IF* the oral history has significant content about events in World War I or World War II, add a collection for that war - World War One Collection - World War Two Collection **** Note **** .. note:: - More :doc:`Note ` formatting and examples +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Guideline** | **Examples** | +===========================================================+===================================================================+ |- Use a display note for any information not appropriate |Summary: Interview with A.W. Dupree, Jr. concerning his | | for other sections that would be useful for users (not |experiences as a resident of Hamilton Park, Texas from 1966 to | | required) |1990. Dupree discusses his youth in Dallas, his service in the | |- For items cataloged at UNT (or another library), catalog|U.S. military during World War II, his musical career, his | | record notes may be included with their labels |decision to buy a home in Hamilton Park, home improvements, | | |church activities, the desegregation of Hamilton Park School, | | |Pacesetter, commercial encroachment, and the "Buy Out." | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |Contents: April 5, 1984 interview [leaves [1]-31] -- February | | |21, 1985 interview [leaves [32]-86] -- May 14, 1985 interview | | |[leaves [87]-160] -- May 31, 1985 interview [leaves [161]-290] | +-----------------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------+