Every person, organization, family, and community has a story worth preserving. Through professional oral history interviewing and research, I help organizations document firsthand accounts, personal experiences, and historical perspectives that might otherwise be lost.
I am an oral historian, journalism professor, and author with extensive experience conducting and managing oral history projects. I hold a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University and am currently a professor at Saint Louis University. My professional background combines academic historical research, journalism, and public history, allowing me to create oral histories that are both engaging and historically rigorous.
In addition to conducting oral history research for my own scholarly work, I have completed oral history projects for organizations including the Washington Press Club Foundation and the Newspaper Journalists Oral History Program. My experience interviewing individuals from diverse professional and personal backgrounds enables me to capture stories with accuracy, depth, and sensitivity.
A Journalistic Approach to Oral History
Oral history is more than recording memories. It is a careful process of research, relationship building, interviewing, documentation, and preservation. My goal is to ensure that each interview captures not only facts and events, but also the personal experiences, reflections, and context that bring history to life.
My expertise is informed by years of historical research and writing. I am the author of:
My work examines media history, journalism, and the individuals who shape public discourse. Prior to my academic career, I worked in the Pittsburgh media industry, giving me firsthand experience in interviewing, storytelling, and documenting lived experiences.
Oral History Project Services
- Pre-interview research and background preparation.
- Development of customized interview questions.
- Scheduling and conducting interviews.
- Professional audio and video recording.
- Approximately 6 to 10 hours of recorded interview audio, depending on project needs.
- Full transcription of all interview recordings.
- Transcript review, editing, and approval with the interview subject.
- Organization and preparation of materials for long-term preservation.
- Delivery of finalized recordings and transcripts in the agreed-upon format.
Pricing
My professional consulting rate is $250 per hour.
A typical oral history project requires approximately 15 hours of work per interview subject, including research, preparation, interviewing, transcription management, editing, and final deliverables.
Estimated project cost per oral history interview:
15 hours × $250/hour = $3,750 per interview subject
Because every project is unique, final costs are determined by the scope requested by the organization. Discounts or customized pricing may be available for larger projects involving multiple interview subjects.
Ideal Clients
- Historical societies
- Museums and archives
- Foundations
- Professional associations
- Universities and colleges
- Nonprofit organizations
- Corporations seeking to preserve institutional history
- Community organizations
- Families interested in preserving personal histories
Why Work With Me?
- Advanced academic training
- Expertise in oral history methodology
- Published scholarship and historical authorship
- Professional media and interviewing experience
- Experience conducting oral histories for nonprofit and historical organizations
- Commitment to producing accurate, accessible, and enduring historical records
Contact
If your organization is interested in preserving important stories, documenting institutional memory, or creating a lasting historical archive, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss your project.
Contact me to request a customized oral history proposal and project estimate: ashley.walter@slu.edu