I. Introduction to Oral Histories

I. Introduction

Just Do It
What is an Oral History?
Sequence For Oral History Research

Just Do It
We all have stories to tell, stories we have lived from the inside out. We give our experiences an order. We organize the memories of our lives into stories.

Oral history listens to these stories. Oral history is the systematic collection of living people’s testimony about their own experiences. Memories of everyday people, not just the rich and famous, have historical importance. If we do not collect and preserve those memories and those stories, then one day they will disappear forever.

The stories of immigrants who have come to this country for a better life are unique, valuable treasures for society to collect. You and your fellow students can discover and preserve unwritten history large and small. Oral history is so flexible that people of all ages can adapt the techniques of asking and listening to create and learn about history and historical narratives.
As a door into the world of oral history, the pages contained within this blog will give basic suggestions for collecting and preserving the valuable oral treasures around you, to enrich you and future generations.

Many people become concerned about "doing it right," yet they also recognize that a voice or image on tape is better than nothing at all. So they try just a simple interview, just talking to someone for an hour. Ten years later such people are thankful that they made the effort, and those who did not …well, they have regrets.

I hope that these pages will encourage you on this journey to take the time and make the effort! GOOD LUCK!

What Is Oral History?
Oral history is the systematic collection of living people's testimony about their own experiences. Oral history is not folklore, gossip, hearsay, or rumor. In oral history projects, an interviewee recalls an event for an interviewer who records the recollections and creates a historical record.

event -->> interviewee -->> interviewer -->> historical record

Oral history depends upon human memory and the spoken word. The means of collection can vary from taking notes by hand to video recordings.

Oral history, well done, gives one a sense of accomplishment. Collecting oral hist0ry, we have a sense of catching and holding something valuable from the receding tide of the past.

Sequence for Oral History Research

1. Formulate a central question or issue.
2. Plan the project. Consider such things as end products, equipment, purpose, evaluation, group dynamics, and time frames.
3. Conduct background research.
4. Interview.
5. Process interviews.
6. Evaluate research and interviews and cycle back tostep 1 or go on to step 7.
7. Organize and present results.
8. Store materials archivally.