Collection Metadata Overview

This page explains how to create and configure your metadata spreadsheet, which is the backbone of your Oral History as Data project.

What is Metadata?

Metadata is the structured information about each interview in your collection. It enables search, browsing, and connects transcripts and media to your site.

Key Steps

  • Use the CollectionBuilder-CSV format
  • Required fields: objectid, title, display_template (set to transcript)
  • OHD specific fields: interviewer, interviewee, date, description, subject, location, object_location (for media links)
  • Each row = one interview

Required Fields

  • objectid: A unique identifier for each interview (used for filenames and URLs)
    • This should also match with the filename of the transcript your using!!
  • title: The title of the interview
  • display_template: The template for displaying the item described – it should be transcript for OHD features to work

Oral History as Data Specific Fields

  • interviewee: Name of the person interviewed
  • interviewer: Name of the person conducting the interview
  • pdf: Path to transcript pdf file
    • PDFs will be automatically generated using PagedJS but if you’d rather link to a prepared PDF file, list it either
    • Can be an external link, or a relative link to a PDF stored in the repository
  • bio: Biographical information about the interviewee
    • You can use Markdown to style the bios.

Standard CollectionBuilder Fields

  • description: A brief summary of the interview content
  • subject: Topics covered in the interview (semicolon separated)
  • date: When the interview took place (YYYY-MM-DD format recommended)
  • location: Where the interview was conducted
  • latitude: Geographic coordinate (if relevant)
  • longitude: Geographic coordinate (if relevant)
  • format: The format of the original interview (e.g. video/mp4)
  • rights: Copyright or usage rights statement
  • rightsstatement: URL to a formal rights statement
  • object_location: URL to audio/video (if available)
  • image_small*: small image to represent item in the collection (if left blank, will default to bootstrap icon)
  • image_thumb: thumbnail image to represent item in the collection (if left blank, will default to bootstrap icon)

Example Metadata Entry

objectid: smith_john
title: Interview with John Smith on Local Mining History
interviewee: John Smith
interviewer: Sarah Johnson
date: 2023-05-15
description: John Smith discusses his 40-year career in the Coalville mines, focusing on technological changes and safety improvements.
subject: mining; labor history; workplace safety
location: Coalville, PA
latitude: 41.4090
longitude: -75.6624
object_location: https://youtu.be/BX_bURONf78
bio: John Smith (b. 1945) worked as a miner from 1963-2003 and served as safety coordinator for the last decade of his career.

More Help

For a sample file, see the examples

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Content Overview Transcript Preparation Overview