Almost 70 years to the date of combat in the small town of Tremensuoli, Italy, during World War II, the University of Kentucky’s Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History along with a researcher in Italy have connected to reveal an amazing discovery about an American GI who served in the battle and left his mark on that community. Several months ago, Giovanni Caruso contacted the Nunn Center at UK Libraries researching a story he wanted to write on a battle in the small town of Tremensuoli in 1944. He had discovered a carving in a stone wall there that identified an American soldier, name and date from hometown and state (M.A. Webb, C-ville, Ky., 1944 March 30). The writer had connected the name to an oral history interview in the Nunn Center’s collection with World War II veterans. The interview, recorded in 1986 by Col. Arthur L. Kelly, was with Marshall Webb of Campbellsville. Read full story and watch video here.
Blog
Holographic Oral History
Pinchas Gutter sits in a red chair surrounded by bright green fabric under the glare of several thousand LED lights, 53 cameras capturing his every move. This is the world's first ever full-life history captured in true 3-D. As I interview him, I perch on a stool 8 feet away at 90 degrees to Pinchas. We can see each other through a mirror angled at 45 degrees. I have 400 questions in front of me as we settle in for five days of intensive interview. This is not the fireside chat in the comfort of the interviewee's home. We are joined in the studio by a host of graphic and natural language scientists, multiple interviewers and producers frantically scribbling notes. Oral history just changed irreversibly. Read this interesting article in full here.
Boston Marathon Bombing
This page is part of the WBUR Oral History Project, which features voices of survivors, first responders and others reflecting on the bombings at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. These reflections are a collaboration with Northeastern University’s “Our Marathon: Boston Bombing Digital Archive.” This page will be updated with new voices daily through April 15. Listen to sound excerpts from this page, click here.
Boston College Tapes – former IRA commander charged
A former IRA commander has been charged with one of the most horrific murders during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, based on information gathered by Boston College as part of an oral history project. Ivor Bell is awaiting trial in Belfast on charges he aided and abetted the murder of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10 who in 1972 was abducted, shot, and secretly buried by the IRA after she was accused of being an informer. For full story, click here.
Gerry Adams criticises Boston College Project
Following the arrest of 77-year-old former IRA leader Ivor Bell in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has released a statement condemning the Boston College oral history project, on which Bell’s charges are based. “It is clear that the so-called Boston Oral History project is an entirely bogus, shoddy and self-serving effort by those involved,” he said. For full story click here.
Voices of Katrina
The ferocity of Hurricane Katrina etched the date August 29, 2005, in the minds of everyone who experienced it. South Mississippians, and the thousands of people from across the country who came to their aid, are forever shaped by the disaster and its aftermath. For full story with links to audio, click here.
Orange NSW Oral Histories
ORANGE City librarian Peter Douglass believes a move to firm the relationship between the library and the Oral History Group of Orange will ensure some of the region’s history won’t be lost in time. Mr Douglass and Oral History Group convener Helen McAnulty have met in the last week to work on building the two group’s relationship in a bid to record some of the lesser known stories from Orange. For full story click here.
Kellyville Post Office celebrates 125 years
A STAMP cost a shilling when the first Kellyville post office opened in the public school on the corner of Acres and Windsor roads on January 1, 1889. Hear an oral history recording here at Hills Voices Online. Kellyville's postcode was 2153 in 1889, and the postmistress was Mary Price. Her salary was £10 a year. For full story and link to extensive audio recordings, click here.
Washington Tornado Survival Stories
After a slow start, the HOPE Lives On project is gaining momentum. Spokeswoman Elyse Nicholson said about 20 written accounts of experiences from the Nov. 17 tornado, rescue efforts and cleanup have been submitted since the project was launched in January. Most stories were turned in last month. For full story, click here.
Bhutan Refugees Stories
The stories, photos and videos are posted on the project's website. This availability was important to Klein Bergman. "Most oral histories that are captured for museums and historical societies that I have worked on over the years are archived away, and little is done outside of that," she said. In contrast, this project was meant to make participants' stories – in their own words – accessible to the community. "You can see their pictures and family photographs, hear their voices, and get a snapshot of what it was like living in the camps – and what it is like for newcomers to arrive here," Klein Bergman said. For full story with links to the website, click here.