"Objects can tell us much about the past; about ways of life, culture, values and about ourselves. They can take on vastly different meanings from one person to another – the adage ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ comes to mind. But if you were forced to pack up your life into one small suitcase, what objects would you choose to keep? For many of the people in this project, that was a choice they faced at one time in their lives." To see photos of objects and listen to the associated stories click on the website here.
Category: Uncategorized
Ted Kennedy Oral History
The late Senator Ted Kennedy was a Washington, D.C. legend, serving 47 years in Congress. This week, the University of Virginia’s Miller Center will release part of the oral history it compiled on Kennedy, working from 300 interviews it did with him and those who knew him. For full story click here and to read the transcripts (no audio) click here.
Canadian WWII Veterans
A new exhibit at the Dorval Museum of Local History and Heritage brings the bloody conflict to life with stories and souvenirs from some of Dorval’s own veterans. Survival and Resilience: A Tribute to World War II Veterans showcases artifacts belonging to more than a dozen veterans as well as a video featuring first-person accounts from three local veterans, still living and now in their 90s. See full story and watch video here.
Oral History and Artists
A collection of oral history interviews on the subject of an artist’s life increases the resources available to interpret her or his work. As an oral historian, Sarah Dziedzic always see this as a positive outcome. Hearing firsthand from a curator who spoke to the artist about the work, or a fabricator who lent material expertise, or from a fellow artist whose work comes out of a similar historical context, can generate volumes of new information with which to consider and understand an individual or collected body of work. For full story click here.
Surviving Kamikaze Pilots tell their story
‘It sounds strange, but we were congratulating each other for being selected’ for the special suicide attack unit. ‘When I knew we had lost the war … the thought going through my mind was I had missed my chance to die … and be remembered in infinite glory.’ Two Japanese veterans share memories of the second world war and the aftermath of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. For full story and video interview excerpts click here.
Russian author wins Nobel Prize for Literature
"Though Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich has been the recipient of multiple European book awards, her work has gone largely unrecognized in the United States. It’s probably due to the fact that she writes in Russian, and only four of her books have been translated into English." She uses oral history interviews for many of her stories. For full article click here.
Presenting the interview
What happens to the oral history interview once the microphone is turned off, and the individual or identity leaves the chair and walks away from the table? Join the conversation about oral history storytelling, the artefact, and the treatments often applied to them. Click here to register for this free presentation.
Sydney Oral History Collection
Welcome to the City of Sydney’s Oral History Collection, curated by the City of Sydney’s History Unit. The collection showcases the voices of Sydney people past and present. In these interviews Sydney people talk about their history, their neighbourhoods, their beliefs, their work, their businesses, their relationship with the natural world, and their myriad experiences of daily life in this city. See this website here.
Newcastle historian Margaret Henry
Renowned Newcastle historian and advocate Margaret Henry passed away last week, aged 81. Ms Henry was a highly-respected academic at the University of Newcastle (UON), and was an advocate for transport and heritage in the city. One of her lasting legacies for the Hunter was the work she did recording local oral histories. For full story with links to interview excerpts click here.
LGBTI History
LGBTI punters will soon be able to order a beer and a burger with an extra portion of queer history under a bid to get the community more engaged in Sydney’s gay and lesbian past. The initiative is a different direction for Sydney’s Pride History Group (PHG) under new chair, Dr Shirleene Robinson, an academic at Macquarie University. For full story click here.