What is Oral History?
Oral history refers to both a method of recording and preserving oral testimony and the product of that process. It begins with an audio or video recording of a first-person account made by an interviewer with an interviewee (also called a narrator). Both participants have the conscious intention of creating a permanent record to contribute to an understanding of the past. The resulting verbal document—the oral history—is preserved and made available in various forms to other users, researchers, and the public. When using oral history, a critical approach to the oral testimony and its interpretations is essential.
How Oral Histories Make a Difference
Oral Histories serve several purposes to enhance our understanding of the past by uplifting personal stories.
Appreciate
Oral histories foster appreciation for little-known or rapidly vanishing ways of life, expressing the lived experiences of individuals in their own words.
Verify
Oral histories verify the historicity of events that cannot be determined by traditional methods of historical research, seeking to correct stereotypical images of lifestyles and people.
Preserve
Oral histories recover and preserve important aspects of a human experience that would otherwise go undocumented.
