Recommendations for Oral History Resources

I have referred people to the resources at the Institute for Oral History at Baylor University, including their style guide and an article by Thomas Charlton on "How to Interview." Baylor also has a good style guide for editing.

I usually also tell them to review articles in the Oral History Review to see the many different techniques people are using. Another good training resource is with the Smithsonian Institution: https://siarchives.si.edu/history/how-do-oral-history.

I have done some of my own research and summarizing on techniques/strategies for interviewing people with disabilities and am happy to share it.

Hi Linda--

I'm about to start an oral history project and I've enlisted some assistants who have no/little experience conducting oral histories. I found David Caruso's Science History Institute workshop to be informative. I have also recommended the oral history materials provided by the Minnesota Historical Society.

https://www.mnhs.org/library/learn/collections/oral-history
https://www.sciencehistory.org/OHtraining

Hi Linda,

I don't know if you are interested in materials written in other languages than English. I recently published a very basic handbook aimed at non experts, community based projects and secondary schools. I hope it helps.

http://laaventuradeaprender.intef.es/documents/10184/136774/91_RED_LADA…

2/24/2023
I urge you to listen to yesterday's radio conversation, Sharing Black Family Histories, with Kelly Elaine Navies, oral historian at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, Brian Lehrer, and the people who called in:
WNYC-FM's Brian Lehrer Show (2/23/2023 ), https://www.wnyc.org/story/sharing-black-family-histories/.

Kelly Elaine Navies gives really helpful strategies for eliciting family histories and doing oral histories in general. The entire program is deeply moving!

There is a transcript available, but the voices are so much better.

Karen Reeds

karenmreeds@gmail.com
Princeton Research Forum, a community of independent scholars. A Partner Group of the National Coalition of Independent Scholars
http://www.princetonresearchforum.org/
https://www.ncis.org/

If you'd like to help people immerse in the feel of oral testimonials, send them to our Talking Across the Lines podcast, or online at https://soundcloud.com/talkingacrossthelines.

I really love and have been recommending Self Evident's Oral History Toolkit, which includes video lessons, transcripts, and additional resources: https://selfevidentshow.com/oral-history-toolkit

Also Voice of Witness resources: https://voiceofwitness.org/education/lesson-plans/

Another community oral history resource to add to this discussion is the NYC Trans Oral History Project Handbook: https://nyctransoralhistory.org/content/uploads/2021/09/NYCTOH_Handbook…

It's clear and uncomplicated as a general oral history handbook and has great sections outlining the goals and values that drive the project!

My thanks to all who responded to my query. You have brought to my attention some materials that I did not know about, and I appreciate that. I hope others have found the information useful also. --Linda Shopes

Hello Linda-

So glad you received so man resources and ideas. It would be great if you could share a document, if you have one, with the listserv.

Thank you!

I appreciate the interest. However, the document in question is under development: it's incomplete, not comprehensive, and targeted to a specific audience, so probably best not to forward at this time. Once it's complete and okayed by those with whom I am working, I can forward. Of course, recommendations shared via H-Oralhist are available to all via this string of messages. --Linda Shopes

Hi Linda,

You may find the Genocide Research and Vicarious Trauma: A Self Care Discussion webinar useful. This webinar will be taking place on May 4, 2023 at 12:30 pm EST. It will explore the causes and impact of vicarious trauma and offer suggestions for self care and healthy research practices. To register for this discussion, register with this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_TLwn2bzjTmWEf4vyRVIN8w

Those who register will also receive a link to the recorded session for future reference. It will also be available on YouTube.
Visit our website to learn more about this webinar and the guests see https://zoryaninstitute.org/genocide-research-and.../