Oral History Interviewers

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Disclaimer: This volunteer position requires an application that will be provided by the Dallas Jewish Historical Society once we receive notification of your interest in volunteering. Please read the full description carefully

Description:

This position will report to the DJHS Archivist, but will occasionally also assist the Executive Director and Administrative Assistant with various clerical tasks. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Dallas Jewish community, while earning experience in a nonprofit setting!

Oral History Interviewers will play an integral role within the organization - to continue collecting the oral histories, and thus the collective memory, of Jewish Dallas. We are consistently contacted by individuals interested in donating their oral history, so there are always interviews to schedule and conduct. This is a hands-on position that will require a combination of sitting and standing, as well as set up and breakdown of user friendly lighting and recording equipment. Training will be provided for all tasks and assignments, so no previous experience is required. However, we do recommend the following:

• strong organizational skills
• strong attention to detail, and active listening
• ability to speak clearly and concisely
• willingness to learn new procedures
• an interest in history, historical preservation, and meeting new people

Duties will include:

• contacting prospective oral history donors via phone and/or email
• scheduling interviews based on your and donors’ schedules
• timely communication with the archivist upon scheduling an interview to check out equipment or request a room reservation
• familiarization with basic interview questions, and being prepared to ask thoughtful follow-up questions as needed.
• setting up and breaking down equipment such as a camera, tripod, and lighting tents
• completion of necessary paperwork (deed of gift)
• returning equipment to the historical society

Requirements:

We require a commitment for a minimum 3 months, with no less than 4 hours per week. Volunteer hours must be served in increments of no less than 2 hours. Each volunteer opportunity is unique and specific projects will be based on the experience, education, and interests of each applicant. Oral History interviews can be conducted outside of business hours following training, and with approval from the Historical Society. Please contact our Volunteer Director and Archivist, Jessica Schneider, to find out more about the application, interview and scheduling process.

Background of the organization:

The Dallas Jewish Historical Society works to collect and preserve the papers, photographs, and artifacts that illustrate the history of the Jewish community in Dallas. We strive to keep the past alive through innovative programming, community outreach, and by making our collections accessible to our patrons and researchers. Our archive includes textual documents, maps, photographs, slides, artwork, objects, textiles, and an extensive oral history collection in various formats from vinyl to digital. Programs include the Lecture Series, the Oral History Program, Historic Bus Tours, and Photo Socials.

Our community engagement efforts and daily tasks result in a surplus of projects that include everything from filing to data entry, to research, to occasional editing and revision of outgoing communications.