Oral History Core Questions

  1. What is your full name?

  2. What is your nationality?

  3. What is your date of birth?

  4. Where were you born?

  5. When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?

  6. Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?

  7. What did you like/dislike about your home/country?

  8. Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

  9. How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?

  10. How did you find a place to live in Philly?

  11. With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]

  12. Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?

  13. How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?

  14. What did you expect about the US/Philly?

  15. What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?

  16. What are the differences between when you came here and now?

  17. What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

  18. What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?

  19. How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?

  20. How did you adapt to your new environment?

  21. Why do you think it was worth all your changes?**

  22. What education did you have before/after you arrived?

  23. Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?

  24. What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?

  25. Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, how did you get money?

  26. Is there anything you would like to add?


Idea: You might want to give your interviewee a copy of the questions beforehand.