Preserving these stories, as audio and video computer files, fills in the fine grain of history that is often missed. And you and your family also have a “history” worth recording and preserving. You may have seen the popular PBS series, “Finding Your Roots,” with Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and thought, “I wonder what is in my family’s history.” Your own oral history project could help fill in that story. Read more here.
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Christchurch Earthquake Memories
A Christchurch Trust hopes a new earthquake oral history walk will encourage locals yet to set foot in the city centre again to come back. Twelve years ago today, the city was rocked by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake which claimed 185 lives. Our Stories Trust and Canterbury University have created the Earthquake Stories Walk, a 30-minute trail based on the anonymous experiences of about 30 people. Read full story with link to story trail here.
Small computer inventor from West Australia
West Australian inventor turned retailer, Neil Hancock, has been in business for virtually the entirety of the portable computing era. Watch an oral history interview with him about his career.
Vietnam Veteran’s New Book
Gary McKay was the first Australian solder to write an autobiography on his time serving in the Vietnam War, eventually turning his career to preserving military history. This Australia Day he is being honoured for his contribution to the nation’s veterans and our history by receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia. Read full article here.
Oral History used for Historical Fiction
“Ami Polonsky’s newest book for young readers, World Made of Glass, is set in 1987 and features Iris, a 12-year-old facing her father’s death from AIDS. In an era when the president hadn’t uttered the word “AIDS,” Iris copes with her grief and anger at losing her father and the discrimination he and his friends face, and finds solace by getting involved with ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power.” Read full article here and see the interviews here.
Monash Scholar at Columbia University
“New York City is a long way from Wiradjuri Country but that hasn’t stopped filmmaker Bronte Gosper from remembering what her identity means to her. A Monash scholar, Gosper landed in New York City to complete an oral history Masters at Columbia University. As part of her masters, she’s making a documentary recording the histories of Aboriginal activism in Australia. The Wiradjuri woman said she wanted to make this documentary after she noticed the lack of stories being told from the point of view of Aboriginal women. “I wanted to record the histories and stories of Indigenous female activists who’ve worked to empower their communities, particularly in the years fro1980 to 2005,” she said.” See full story here.
Connecting Generations
“Heartwarming course alert! Each student in NYU Steinhardt’s “Wellness and the Human Connection” class is paired up with a local older adult, forming close relationships through weekly interviews over the course of the semester and ultimately writing an oral history of the person’s life.” See more here.
Journal – new CFP deadline
The deadline for peer-reviewed articles for the 2023 issue of our journal Studies in Oral History has been extended to 16 December 2022.
Find out more here.
2022 Podcast Winners
An Australian history podcast, The Last Outlaws, took home the top award for Podcast Of The Year giving listeners a memorable audio experience. The prize was received by Leyroy Parsons, who is a descendant of Jimmy Governor, podcast narrator and co-writer. The podcast focuses on painting the portrait of two Aboriginal men, as well as an exploration of the society that would become Australia – the painful history of stolen ancestral remains.
Osher Günsberg presented the award, saying “the podcast skilfully blends both archival research and oral history into an enthralling narrative, with exquisite sound design, beautifully visual moments, and careful scripting all for a very important story.” See full story here.
BBC 100 Years
From the BBC Oral History Collection here are the key 100 personalities, producers, and innovators that tell the inside story of the BBC here.