ROHA has thus far conducted more than 2,200 oral history interviews. Each interview follows the life-course method, documenting a subject from their family background to their present-day activities, generating a wealth of material in each session.
ROHA's philosophy is to provide free, high-quality oral history resources to the broadest audience possible. Hundreds of hours' worth of research and preparation go into each session. The in-person interviews are recorded in digital audio. A basic transcript is produced and then reviewed for accuracy by a seasoned ROHA staff member. The material discussed in the interview is verified and clarified through annotations to the greatest extent possible.
Transcripts are then reviewed by the participant for accuracy and to ensure that no harmful or embarrassing material is made public. Interviewees are encouraged to correct only minor errors of fact or grammar. We seek to assure participants that they have ultimate ownership of their life story. Each interview is kept confidential until the participant agrees to its release.
Depending upon the interviewee's wishes, not all completed transcripts are released immediately to the public. The interviewees receive copies of both the audio recording and transcripts to share with their families, providing them with a service most participants would have been unable to afford otherwise.
ROHA adheres to the practices and principles regarding human subjects research set by the IRB and the Oral History Association. Each participant is notified of their rights and the program's procedures before the interview and asked to sign a release form. By following these methods, ROHA ensures each participant that every reasonable measure has been taken to safeguard their privacy and to responsibly add their story to the public historical record.