Perhaps the most important difference between oral history and traditional history is the personal nature of the former. Oral histories in the classroom oral history interviews have been widely recognized by many historians as a unique and distinctive technique by which to document the history of a specific individual, family, organization or group, community, timeperiod, or event. Division jjd to teach oral history to teens who are considered at risk. It begins with an audio or video recording of a first person account made by an interviewer with an interviewee also referred to as narrator, both of whom have the conscious intention of creating a permanent record to. Nigerian communities used storytelling as oral discourse, since.
The united states found itself at war with peoples of the pacific rim three times in living memory. In ancient greece, during the ancient greek dark ages, oral history. The sweet life of the whites and the privileges bestowed on the chiefs of the village are quite clear. An oral history of the bush white house, by cullen murphy and todd s. Oral history aims to contribute to developments in the theory and practice of oral history. One of the best reflections on personalized scholarship can be found in stacey zembrzycki, sharing authority with baba, journal of canadian studies 43, 1 hiver 2009. Oral history typically involves interviews with individuals who either tell their life stories or focus on a certain aspect of their history. This manual includes tips on designing an oral history project. Within this movement oral historians have approached the collection, analysis and dissemination of oral history in different ways. Oral history can give a voice to individuals and groups who are sometimes marginalized in conventional histories the working classes, women and ethnic minorities, for instance. It is the study of the past, particularly how it relates to humans. Composed of multiple points of view throughout three generations, it follows the mountaindwelling. Generally, oral history researchers in the social sciences and humanities apply a grounded theory approach, or some version of it, to their data analysis.
Its something im inclined to commit whenever a little ice and snow shut down the schools and government. At the beginning, the omniscient third person narrator tells that the house of the chief is different from that of other peoples homes and it is the only house made of brick, the rest of them having thatched roofs and mud for their walls. Oral history is one of the most important ways that we. Grounded theory approaches are useful for building theory out of your data. Recordings of the interview are transcribed, summarized, or indexed and then place in a library of archives. These interviews are conducted with people who participated in or observed past events and whose memories and perceptions of these are to be preserved as an aural record for future generations. Xo john schork quoted in midway magic, an oral history of americas legendary aircraft carrier tags. Introduction to qualitative research softwares laszlo csirmaz week 3 25 january politics of oral history. African american life in illinois, 181867 subtopic.
The importance of oral traditions in african history 1058 words 5 pages. Russell, director santa barbara, california 931069010 805 8938215 oral history methodology, the art of interviewing oral history is as old as antiquity. Oral history enhances a historians broad range of historical resources, including primary and secondary sources used to reference the past. Introduction oral history refers both to a method of recording and. The oral history project will give students an opportunity to explore important events and historical themes by conducting an indepth interview.
Oral history, by lee smith,is a magical realist novel about 20thcentury rural american life. Oral history and oral communication in todays culture. In this article, i will highlight the value and urgency of utilizing oral history with regards to the. Oral history captures individuals everyday perspectives, unique life experiences, speech patterns, use of language and contemporary mannerisms. Oral history has also emerged as an international movement. Our theory is that oral history can be used to preserve communities and reconnect people with their heritage. Oral history must be preserved in proper archives of oral history.
Pdf the challenge of oral history to environmental history. Thus, the writing of family history is an absolute necessity in the reconstruction of regional or local history. In this revised edition of paul thompsons successful book, he traces oral history through its own past and weighs up the recent achievements of this international movement. The best way to start is by making a transcript, by listening back to. Written by linda shopes, this guide presents an overview of oral history and ways historians use it, tips on questions to ask when reading or listening to oral history interviews, a sample.
Oral history interview questions worksheet oral history is an interview that records a persons recollection of experiences, thoughts, and feelings about a specific event or a period of time. Hence, as oral history implies oral communication, it has a consequence on the transmitter and on the receiver. Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. Oral history oral history by nadine gordimer author. Oral history is a method for obtaining information from different and personal perspectives, many of which cannot be found in written sources. An introduction for students james hoopes article pdf available in the public historian. Oral history provides a fuller, more accurate picture of the past by augmenting the information provided by public records, statistical data, photographs, maps, letters, diaries, and other historical materials. Oral testimonies, on the other hand, are the words of an eyewitness. Herodotus, if you recall, set down many of his stories from accounts he heard an his travels. In the context of military history, an oral history interview aims to elicit information about personal experiences and views relating to the conflict in. Oral tradition and memory of individuals supply considerable data for such writings. These characteristics permeate the four forms which abrams 2010 argues oral history takes.
An oral history interview generally consists of a wellprepared interviewer questioning an interviewee and recording their exchange in audio or video format. Oral history has been described as part of the struggle of memory against forgetting. Oral history is the way stories were passed doe before writing was invented. The office of history, national institutes of health exists to advance historical understanding of biomedical research within the nih and the world.
The ones nobody wrote down, but carried on by way of telling. We received a grant from jjd to start the pilot project, preserving community, teaching high school students oral history. This helps people retain what they learn and generates individuals who are capable of continuing these oral traditions. Through indepth recorded audio and video interviews, the mit oral history project is preserving this valuable legacy for the historical record. When viewed from this perspective, oral history is one of the most important analytical tools available to researches today. The second reason why communication is an important process in oral history is because communication is something we do and it is an activity which we can alter the way we engage in it or we can improve it. Pdf sources of historical study, primary, secondary and. In particular, it has proved instrumental in an in depth comprehension of historical events such as the partition of. Oral sources and oral history the phrase oral history is a common abbreviation for what we might describe, more articulately, as the use of oral sources in history or the social sciences.
Why oral history is important naval historical foundation. Oral history is also the practice of passing down these stories by verbally sharing them with other people. In this paper, we emphasize the importance of taking oral history narrators. Consequently, oral testimony becomes oral history with the shift from one generation to the next.
Oral tradition benefits transmission of cultural values and firsthand historical events in a way that makes listeners more active participants in receiving information. Consequently, for some there are passages in this guide that may not be germane, depending on the type of interview. Because those who provide the information are generally older members of the family, both their lives and their memories are at risk of being lost to time. The principles and best practices for oral history update and replace the oral history evaluation guidelines adopted in 1989, revised in 2000. However practitioners across a range of academic disciplines have also developed the method into a way of recording, understanding and archiving narrated memories. A grounded theory approach is an open approach to data analysis where codes are generated directly out of the data. Oral history and john and mary jones teacher background information a lthough the joneses were key players in the abolitionist movement in illinois, many people are unaware of their. In regional or local history, the families play a predominate role. Preserving oral history is a critical first phase of genealogical research and data preservation.
Because those who provide the information are generally older. Oral history continues to be an important means by which nonacademics can actively participate in making history. At times, an interview may serve as the only source of infor mation available about a certain place, event, or person. He challenges myths of historical scholarship and looks at the use of oral sources by the historian. This guide is also designed to provide some direction to volunteers who conduct oral histories on behalf of the nhc or the nhf. The 10 best oral histories from 2012 that you havent had time to read yet maybe there can be such a thing as too much of the oral history especially this year, when the. Oral history methods are widely used by historians of societies shaped by oral forms of cultural and knowledge transfer to.
Oral historys distinctive features are its interdisciplinary roots in sociology and history, and its valuing of orality. Abstract an archaeological reconstruction of the history and aspects of the culture of the. Principles and best practices oral history association. Introduction oral history refers both to a method of recording and preserving oral testimony and to the product of that process. Sommer and mary kay quinlan, the oral history manual, pp. One of the most crucial aspects of the development of philosophy of african history has been a realization of the importance of the spoken or oral traditions in the framing and interpretation of african history. The importance of oral history january 7, 20 caroline muglia as many of you know, the lebanese in north carolina project began as an endeavor to collect oral testimonies from members of the community. Encourage students to generate and test hypotheses about the source. Making sense of oral history offers a place for students and teachers to begin working with oral history as historical evidence. Best writing service why is oral history important. Collecting oral history can bring a lot of meaning to your role as a family historian because you end up an amazing source of insight into your ancestors lives that you wouldnt have had if you just looked through the records. Because of the importance of context and identity in shaping the content of an oral history narrative, it is the practice in oral history for narrators to be identified by.
Through preserving records of significant nih achievements, innovative exhibits, educational programs, and training researchers from multiple disciplines, the office of history explores the past to enhance present understanding of the health. This guide should not be considered the final word on how to conduct oral history. Eyewitnesses to events contribute various viewpoints and perspectives that fill in the gaps in documented history, sometimes correcting or even contradicting the written record. The problem with that, obviously, is the happy embellishment of the storyteller, who had heard the tale and pass. An audio recording, video or film, or a written transcript does it seem like an interview or a conversation.
Oral history recordings help listeners better understand how individuals from various view points and different stations in society encountered the full range of life in their day, from everyday routines to catastrophic events. In recent years, the oralhistory format has become such a ubiquitous presence in entertainment journalism that its almost weird to see a day go. Oral history also played a major role during periods of distress. Jake fletcher is a professional genealogist, educator and blogger. By showing how national or international events affected the lives of individuals, oral history adds a personal dimension to the study of the past. Oral history helps round out the story of the past. Prospects and challenges of oral traditions and ethnography for archaeological reconstructions a case study of tivland, nigeria by samuel oluwole ogundele, ph. Oral history is a collection of personal testimonies or stories of events that occurred inpeoples lives.
It can provide new information, alternative explanations and different insights which are potentially of enormous value. In addition to the workshops that we offer to community groups, we are happy to provide this manual as a resource and guide to oral history interviewing. According to the national oral history association oha, oral history refers both to a method of recording and preserving oral testimony and to the product of that process. Oral history interviews differ from journalistic or specific historical research. Like how well do you know the people who raised you.
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