How to Cite Interviews in Chicago Style
Interviews are essential primary sources for historical research, oral history, journalism, and qualitative studies. Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) distinguishes between published interviews, unpublished interviews, and personal communications, with specific formats for each type in both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems.
Understanding Interview Citations
Interview citations vary based on publication status and accessibility. Published interviews in magazines, newspapers, or broadcast media are cited differently from personal interviews conducted by the researcher. Oral histories archived in repositories require detailed location information. The Notes-Bibliography system is preferred in history and humanities, while Author-Date is used in social sciences. Personal interviews by the researcher are typically cited in notes only, not in bibliographies.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Published Interviews
Basic Format for Published Interviews
Footnote/Endnote:
Interviewee Name, interview by Interviewer Name, "Interview Title,"Publication, Month Day, Year, Page or URL.
Bibliography entry:
Interviewee Name. Interview by Interviewer Name. "Interview Title."Publication, Month Day, Year. Page or URL.
Example: Magazine Interview
Note:
1. Toni Morrison, interview by Claudia Brodsky Lacour, "The Salon Interview," Salon, February 16, 1998, https://www.salon.com/1998/02/16/cov_si_16int/.
Bibliography:
Morrison, Toni. Interview by Claudia Brodsky Lacour. "The Salon Interview." Salon, February 16, 1998. https://www.salon.com/1998/02/16/cov_si_16int/.
Example: Newspaper Interview
Note:
2. Lin-Manuel Miranda, interview by Patrick Healy, "Hamilton's Creator on His Founding Father Obsession," New York Times, July 30, 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/theater/lin-manuel-miranda-hamiltons-creator.html.
Example: Broadcast Interview (Television)
Note:
3. Barack Obama, interview by Anderson Cooper, 60 Minutes, CBS, November 13, 2016.
Bibliography:
Obama, Barack. Interview by Anderson Cooper. 60 Minutes. CBS, November 13, 2016.
Example: Radio Interview
Note:
4. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, interview by Terry Gross, Fresh Air, NPR, February 15, 2018, audio, 45:30, https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/2018/02/15/586030359.
Example: Podcast Interview
Note:
5. Ta-Nehisi Coates, interview by Ezra Klein, "Ta-Nehisi Coates on Reparations," The Ezra Klein Show, podcast audio, 1:15:23, June 20, 2019, https://www.vox.com/ezra-klein-show-podcast.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Unpublished Interviews
Basic Format for Personal Interviews
Footnote/Endnote:
Interviewee Name, interview by author, Location, Month Day, Year.
Bibliography entry:
Personal interviews conducted by the researcher are typically cited only in notes, not in the bibliography. However, if you conducted many interviews, you may list them in the bibliography.
Example: In-Person Interview by Researcher
Note:
6. Sarah Johnson, interview by author, Chicago, IL, March 15, 2024.
Example: Phone or Video Interview by Researcher
Note:
7. Michael Chen, phone interview by author, January 20, 2024.
Alternative:
8. Robert Martinez, Zoom interview by author, February 5, 2024.
Example: Email Interview
Note:
9. Lisa Anderson, email interview by author, December 10, 2023.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Oral History Interviews
Basic Format for Archived Oral Histories
Footnote/Endnote:
Interviewee Name, interview by Interviewer Name, Date, transcript or audio, Collection Name, Repository, Location.
Bibliography entry:
Interviewee Name. Interview by Interviewer Name. Date. Transcript or audio. Collection Name. Repository, Location.
Example: Oral History in Archive
Note:
10. Rosa Parks, interview by Blackside, Inc., November 14, 1985, transcript and audio, 45:30, Henry Hampton Collection, Washington University Film and Media Archive, St. Louis, MO.
Bibliography:
Parks, Rosa. Interview by Blackside, Inc. November 14, 1985. Transcript and audio, 45:30. Henry Hampton Collection. Washington University Film and Media Archive, St. Louis, MO.
Example: Oral History Project Online
Note:
11. Alice Paul, interview by Amelia Fry, 1972-1973, transcript, Suffragists Oral History Project, University of California, Berkeley, https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6s20356s/.
Chicago Author-Date: Interviews
Example: Published Interview
In-text citation:
(Morrison 1998)
Reference list:
Morrison, Toni. 1998. Interview by Claudia Brodsky Lacour. "The Salon Interview." Salon, February 16. https://www.salon.com/1998/02/16/cov_si_16int/.
Example: Broadcast Interview
In-text citation:
(Obama 2016)
Reference list:
Obama, Barack. 2016. Interview by Anderson Cooper. 60 Minutes. CBS, November 13.
Example: Personal Interview
In-text citation:
(S. Johnson, pers. comm., 2024)
Reference list:
Personal communications are not included in the reference list in Author-Date format. Cite them parenthetically in text with "pers. comm." and the year.
Example: Oral History
In-text citation:
(Parks 1985)
Reference list:
Parks, Rosa. 1985. Interview by Blackside, Inc. November 14. Transcript and audio, 45:30. Henry Hampton Collection. Washington University Film and Media Archive, St. Louis, MO.
When to Use Each System
| Discipline | Recommended System |
|---|---|
| History | Notes-Bibliography |
| Oral History | Notes-Bibliography |
| Biography | Notes-Bibliography |
| Sociology | Author-Date |
| Anthropology | Author-Date |
| Political Science | Author-Date |
Common Errors to Avoid
1. Confusing Published and Unpublished Interviews
Published interviews (in magazines, newspapers, or broadcast) are treated like any published source and included in the bibliography. Personal interviews conducted by the researcher are cited in notes only (Notes-Bibliography) or parenthetically with "pers. comm." (Author-Date).
2. Missing Interview Method
For personal interviews, specify the method: in-person, phone, email, or video call. This information helps establish the interview's context and credibility.
3. Incomplete Oral History Citations
Archived oral histories require full archival information: collection name, repository, location, and finding aid or catalog number. Treat them like archival primary sources.
4. Wrong Name Order
The interviewee (the person being interviewed) comes first, followed by "interview by" and the interviewer's name. Don't reverse this order.
5. Missing Dates for Personal Interviews
Always include the complete date of personal interviews. This establishes when the information was collected and helps readers evaluate its currency.
6. Omitting Consent Information
While not required in the citation, note in your text if interviews were conducted under IRB approval or with informed consent, especially for sensitive topics.
Special Cases and Considerations
Multiple Interviews with Same Person
Notes:
12. Jane Smith, interview by author, Chicago, IL, March 15, 2024.
13. Jane Smith, interview by author, phone, April 20, 2024.
Bibliography (if including):
Smith, Jane. Interviews by author. Chicago, IL, March 15, 2024, and by phone, April 20, 2024.
Anonymous Interviewee
Note:
14. Anonymous social worker, interview by author, New York, NY, January 10, 2024.
Note: Use descriptive phrases like "anonymous social worker" or "confidential source" when protecting interviewee identity.
Group Interview or Focus Group
Note:
15. Focus group with five history teachers, interview by author, Boston, MA, February 28, 2024.
Interview from Documentary Film
Note:
16. John Lewis, interview in Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965, directed by Henry Hampton, episode 6, "Bridge to Freedom," aired January 21, 1987, on PBS.
Published Interview in Book
Note:
17. James Baldwin, interview by Studs Terkel, in Conversations with James Baldwin, ed. Fred L. Standley and Louis H. Pratt (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1989), 3-23.
Research Ethics and Best Practices
Informed Consent
When conducting original interviews for research, obtain informed consent from participants. Many institutions require IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval for interview-based research. Keep consent forms and interview protocols in your research files.
Recording and Transcription
If you record interviews, note whether you're citing from transcript or audio. Transcripts are easier to cite with page numbers, while audio citations may use time stamps. Store original recordings securely according to research ethics protocols.
Contextual Information
In your text (not the citation), provide relevant context about interviewees: their expertise, relationship to your topic, and why their perspective matters. This helps readers evaluate the source's authority.
Privacy and Confidentiality
When citing anonymous sources or confidential interviews, explain in your text why anonymity was granted. Be consistent in protecting identity—don't include details that could identify the person.
Oral History as Historical Method
Oral history interviews are fundamental to documenting underrepresented voices and experiences in historical research. Major oral history projects—including the WPA narratives, Holocaust testimonies, civil rights movement interviews—provide invaluable primary sources. When citing from oral history archives, include all available identifying information to help other researchers locate the interviews.
For historians conducting original oral history research, your interviews become primary sources for future scholars. Consider depositing transcripts and recordings in institutional archives with proper documentation and access protocols.
Generate Chicago Citations for Interviews
Create accurate Chicago-style citations for published interviews, personal interviews, and oral histories in both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date formats. Essential for historians, journalists, and qualitative researchers.