Indigenous Australians, like most indigenous peoples, have a long history of engaging with European-style mental health services both in and out of the colonial era. However, their history is poorly documented and largely unexplored. We can’t even say for certain how many indigenous people in Australia used mental health services since first contact, and we know even less about what their experiences were. Read full story here.
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Oral History in Micronesia
ORAL history expands people’s appreciation of knowledge, according to Guam oral historian and ethnographer Rlene Santos Steffy in a presentation at Northern Marianas College on Tuesday and Wednesday. In an interview, Steffy said oral history consists of the memories or recollections of people who experienced a particular historical event. “It is about the people — they have the story so let us hear what they have to say, and that will expand our understanding of history because it is not just textbooks written by authors who are paid to do that. They tell us the who, what, where, when, why and how, but not the heart of the story, of those who were involved in the story and have a personal connection to history,” Steffy said.
See full story here.
Library of Congress Website
Frontline Diplomacy: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training at the Library of Congress makes available interview transcripts from the oral history archives of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST). These transcripts present a window into the lives of U.S. diplomats and the major diplomatic crisis and issues that the United States faced during the second half of the 20th century and the early part of the 21st. See more here.
Bancroft Library uses OHMS
“Interviews are not like books, because people’s lives are not like books,” says Martin Meeker, director of The Bancroft Library’s Oral History Center. “They go off in different directions.” For full story click here.
Oral history in the classroom
“This article seeks to demonstrate how using oral history in a service-learning course offers an opportunity for students, faculty, and community to engage in participatory pedagogy. Through oral history, students learn to listen, reflect, and see how their learning is achieved in connection with the community.” For abstract and to access the full paper, click here.
Hunter Valley Wineries
A new book documenting the Hunter’s rich history of wine making has been launched, revealing the changing historical conditions and many personalities that have helped shaped the Hunter Valley region, and Australia’s drinking culture, over the past two centuries. Hunter Wine: A History is the result of a four-year research project led by the University’s renowned sociologist, Professor John Germov, and Australia’s leading wine historian, Dr Julie McIntyre. For full story click here.
Roadies – the Secret History of Australian Rock’n’Roll
Inside ‘Roadies – the Secret History of Australian Rock’n’Roll’ Author Stuart Coupe Gives Us The Lowdown on His New Book. Read full review here.
Oral histories in libraries
“Every family has stories, but not everybody tells theirs. If a local library has its way, it won’t be for lack of opportunity. The East Baton Rouge Parish Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library held its first Family Legacy Recordings event in September, an effort to get people to preserve aspects of their family histories for their future generations — and, if they like, share it with the public at large. Those who sign up can use Bluebonnet’s equipment to record their stories on a USB flash drive they can take home.” Story about libraries doing oral histories. Would be good to see that here. Read full story here.
How We Used to Shop
Mick Fitzpatrick was an iceman who delivered the ice right into your kitchen. “I would get up about 3am, go down to Gallagher’s fuel and coal place in McNamara Lane to the stables to harness the horse to the cart. We’d load the ice into hessian bags and set off on our delivery route all over town. People never locked their doors in those days so we were able to go into the kitchen, deliver the ice and collect the money from on top of the chest without waking them,” he explained. For full story click here.
Social Documentary Pioneer, Olive Shapley
The latest release of material from the BBC’s Oral History collection shines a light on Olive Shapley, one of Manchester’s key figures and a pioneer of social documentary in the North from the 1930s. For full story click here.