Experts Answer to Oral History Questions

100 Questions/51

How long after the event, should the narrators memories be recorded?

Machine Translation Edited by Mandana Karimi

2026-10-12

We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week. The goal of this project is to open new doors to an issue and promote scientific discussions in the field of oral history.

In this project, a question is asked every Saturday, and we ask experts to present their views in the form of a short text (about 100 words) by the end of the week. All answers will be published together so that the audience can compare and analyze the views. The content is the opinions of the senders and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Oral History website. Although the answers are supposed to be about 100 words, in order to be polite and not to leave the discussion incomplete, in some cases, more than this number of answers are also accepted.

This time, we asked the experts to send their answers by Sunday night so that all the answers can be published on Tuesday.

From the intertwining of these answers, using artificial intelligence, we have arrived at theories about oral history that will be published in the near future.

Question 51

How long after the event, should the narrators' memories be recorded?

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Experts’ Answers:

Gholamreza Azari Khakestar

In oral history, the event is one of the most important subjects for recording and recording memories. Many narrators have significant memories and analyses of important events. Sometimes an event becomes so important that it becomes a historical topic. Therefore, its recording is considered a turning point in oral history. Important events usually remain in the narrator's long-term memory. The shorter the time interval between the interview and the event, the more details there are to recount; however, in some political events, the passage of time is necessary so that the narrator can express their narrative and analysis calmly and frankly without possible considerations and limitations.

Hassan Beheshtipour

In oral history, there is no single time for recording memories. Interviews conducted close to or far from the event produce different types of knowledge, and neither is inherently superior. The appropriate time depends on the nature of the event, the purpose of the research, the status and urgency of the narrator, ethical and political considerations, and the readiness of the researcher. In traumatic events, the readiness and consent of the narrator takes precedence over the passage of time. If the narrator is in immediate danger, the recording is conducted with limited access and anonymity. If they are not ready, the interview is postponed and followed up. In evidence-based projects, the consent and agency of the narrator and psychological support are important. In analytical projects, interviews can be conducted in several stages.

Mohammad Mehdi Abdollahzadeh

The answer to this question cannot be expressed in terms of a specific period. The appropriate time for recording memories depends on factors such as the narrator's age, the emotional charge of the event, its importance and sensitivity, the level of access to the narrator, the cultural and political conditions prevailing in the society, the security situation, and the narrator's physical health. In general, the shorter the time interval between the occurrence of the event and the recording of the memories, the greater the likelihood of recalling details, names, times, places, and other elements related to the event. However, the short nature of this time interval should not come at the expense of ignoring the narrator's emotional and mental preparedness or the social and political conditions prevailing in the society.

Abolfat’h Mo’men

In oral history, the subject must be identified in time and the interview must be conducted before the narrator forgets or dies. Interviewing close to the time of the event provides the researcher with more details, but strong emotions from the incident can affect the narrative. On the other hand, a long delay causes forgetfulness, expediency, and the influence of current issues on the narrator's memories. Therefore, it is better to conduct the interview after the initial emotions have subsided. Also, using relevant documents and memories can make the narrator's mind more active. Finally, historical information and data must be recorded and extracted from the narrator's mind before too much time has passed.

Seyyed Mohammad Sadegh Feyz

Recording memories does not require a specific time period. The closer it is to the event, although it may be far from the truth, the more detailed it is. However, there is certainly not only one narrator for an event, and the whole story is not narrated in one session. Rather, it will be completed over time and the neglected parts will also be revealed. So, recording from the recent past to whatever time it requires, has no limits, and it is completion and documentation that gives it importance.

Hamid Ghazvini

The interview should be conducted when the event has ended. That is, we are not dealing with an event that is in progress. Recording memories at the time of the incident is not an accurate task and may not provide a complete narrative due to the narrator's emotions and mental instability. If the memory or narrative is formed shortly after the event and it is possible to express and explain it accurately, recording memories is okay. Of course, as time passes, the narrator may gain more information that will be effective in correcting his or her mindset. However, the longer the time interval, the more likely it is that the narrator will have poor memory or no narrators.

Abolfazl Hassanabadi

One of the controversial issues in oral history is determining the time to conduct an interview about a topic. This depends on the type of event, the purpose of the research, the status of the narrator, and the sensitivity or traumatization of the event. If the goal is to record details, decision-making processes, names of people, places, and everyday events, especially in natural and non-sensitive events, with the aim of empirically recording knowledge, it can be considered by justifying the need for details and not forgetting to do so. However, care must be taken with sensitive topics that may cause political and social sensitivity. However, ultimately, the narrator's readiness and willingness to conduct the interview outweighs other issues.

Gholamreza Azizi

The closer the interview is to the time of the event, the better. For example, in “operational oral history” (a sub-branch of military oral history projects), the interview is conducted in the field and live on site (operation, battle, maneuver). Because this interview is conducted while the events are happening, it contains details and specifics that are not present in most other interviews. But the more precise answer to this question depends on the approach taken to the interview and the approach to the subject. Although operational interviews are in-time, in biographical interviews or end-of-service interviews, the time of many events is further away from the time of the interview.

Artificial intelligence

The best time to record narrators' memories is as soon as possible after the event, because human memory tends to fade, distort, and blend with later information over time. Oral history experience suggests that the optimal interval is a few months to two years after the event. Of course, this is not an absolute rule; in some cases, the passage of time helps the narrator to better understand the depth and consequences of the event. However, a long delay, especially more than a decade, reduces the credibility of the narrative. Therefore, early recording with multi-stage review is the best solution. (DeepSeek)

The best time to record narrators' memories is as soon as possible after the event, because details of events, feelings, names, and the order of events may be forgotten or changed over time. However, the appropriate time also depends on the narrator's mental state. If the event is very painful, traumatic, or sensitive, it is best to wait until the narrator is psychologically ready to share their memories. In oral history, it is usually recommended to conduct the interview as soon as possible after the situation has calmed down and the narrator is safe and prepared, so that the memories are recorded as accurately, intact, and reliable as possible. (ChatGPT)

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