The Oral History Reader

by Robert Perks (Editor), Alistair Thomson (Editor)

The Oral History Reader, now in its third edition, is a comprehensive, international anthology combining major, ‘classic’ articles with cutting-edge pieces on the theory, method and use of oral history. Twenty-seven new chapters introduce the most significant developments in oral history in the last decade to bring this invaluable text up to date, with new pieces on emotions and the senses, on crisis oral history, current thinking around traumatic memory, the impact of digital mobile technologies, and how oral history is being used in public contexts, with more international examples to draw in work from North and South America, Britain and Europe, Australasia, Asia and Africa.



Arranged in five thematic sections, each with an introduction by the editors to contextualise the selection and review relevant literature, articles in this collection draw upon diverse oral history experiences to examine issues





Key debates in the development of oral history over the past seventy years



First hand reflections on interview practice, and issues posed by the interview relationship



The nature of memory and its significance in oral history



The practical and ethical issues surrounding the interpretation, presentation and public use of oral testimonies



how oral history projects contribute to the study of the past and involve the wider community.



The challenges and contributions of oral history projects committed to advocacy and empowerment



With a revised and updated bibliography and useful contacts list, as well as a dedicated online resources page, this third edition of The Oral History Reader is the perfect tool for those encountering oral history for the first time, as well as for seasoned practitioners.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Grad School, Oral History

744 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2015

Reviews

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great anthology of articles on the subject of conducting oral histories. Each chapter touches on various aspects of the oral history process and utilizes real-world case studies/oral history projects in which the individual authors oversee or participate in. The book is broken up into five sections that include: critical developments, interviewing, interpreting memories, making histories, and advocacy and empowerment. More specifically, the articles discuss themes such as preparing for an interview, how to handle uncomfortable topics, working with narrators who have experienced trauma, understanding different levels of memory, digital oral history and technological obsolescence, ethics, and group interviews. These are just a few of the topics covered.

There are a total of forty-three chapters. Most of the oral history projects discussed are based in Europe and Asia but the themes are applicable to anyone collecting oral histories. The projects are fascinating, causing the reader to consider issues and concerns that may not be anticipated. Notable oral historians are contributors to the anthology including Studs Terkel, Alessandro Portelli, Douglas A. Boyd, and there is even a chapter by Alex Haley discussing the oral histories he utilized when writing Roots. This is a great resource for the oral historian.

[Bethanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text for graduate seminar, working with a representative of the Smithsonian archives. The purpose of the course was to teach us how to conduct interviews, and the chapters present a number of approaches and examples, including some examples that vary from the suggested approach. A bit dry in places, but practical advice as we had to go out and produce two long interviews with local artists in the region. Scary, but the book taught us how to prepare, as well as to realize that there are rarely ideal situations, that you can't always control the direction of the interview depending on your (all too human) subject, and that you just have to go with the flow. I think it's a good read for people in the fields of anthropology, history, as well as in the arts. There is some controversy on whether an oral history is as reliable as what are considered first person sources - letters, official documents, journals. Some of this is touched on in the text - in my view, an interview isn't that far removed from a journal, as both a talk and a writing session can be slanted for the subject's personal reasons. The professor might disagree, but that's my conclusion after reading and actually going through the interview/transcription process, and I'm sticking to it...

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A just completely comprehensive handbook for anyone planning to make oral history. :) I would pick out a chapter to praise - but there are so many. From Inuit communities navigating the traumatic memories and testimony of elders through the visual prompt of government photography, to tuning into the stereo of women's experiences in unhappy marriages and finding queer subtexts amongst lesbian interviewees in Cuba.

I really think this is the place and space to make radical, inter-disciplinary social history and this kind of book is so generous to a student, putting the tools to unlock this at our fingertips. Literally feels like a science textbook or something at times, clear lists and instructions for how to work our way through the interview process. :)

I guess I actually have to do this project now...

[haredaaaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best chapter in the book was the one about Alex Haley and his journey of tracing his ancestry through oral history.

[H. Givens · Rating 4 out of 5]

It doesn't have everything, but it has an awful lot! A good balance of theory and example, with an inviting design despite its size. Read for class -- not every essay, but almost all of them. Well worth owning.