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"Oral history is a picture of the past in people's
own words".
Beth Robertson, The Oral History Handbook, 2000
Oral tradition, stories and memories have been passed down
from generation to generation for centuries. However the modern
definition of oral history refers to tape recorded interviews.
The term was coined in the 1940s by Columbia University historian
Allan Nevins.
Oral history interviews are recorded on tape in question
and answer format.
A well-prepared interviewer has knowledge of the subject
to be discussed gained through background research.
The person interviewed shares memories from personal participation
or knowledge of the subject.
Potential subjects for oral history interviews are boundless,
however most have historical interest and value.
Practitioners of oral history are encouraged to make the
results of their interviews available to other researchers.
Oral history preserves the past in a unique way. Although
initially used to record the memories of influential people,
it soon became a technique for recording the experiences of
ordinary people, particularly those whose voices have been
ignored or silenced.
Oral history recordings not only preserve memories but also
voices. Every interviewee shares stories in their own words.
The tone, the inflections and the emotions in each voice are
captured, adding depth and meaning to their words.
The OHAA encourages oral historians to deposit their tapes
into a state, local or national repository where they can
be made available to other researchers.
There are many ways in which oral history can be used. Some
are:
- Quotations and information from interviews are used in
publications - books, theses, reports, essays, magazine
articles and on websites.
- Excerpts from interviews, in written or sound format can
be used in exhibitions and museum displays.
- Excerpts from recordings are broadcast on radio and television
or can be used as sound bytes on websites.
- Oral history excerpts can be used as part of audio walking
tours or as dialogue in plays.
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