Oral History: Home
What is Oral History?
"Oral history refers both to a method of recording and preserving oral testimony and to the product of that process. It begins with an audio or video recording of a first person account made by an interviewer with an interviewee (also referred to as narrator), both of whom have the conscious intention of creating a permanent record to contribute to an understanding of the past. A verbal document, the oral history, results from this process and is preserved and made available in different forms to other users, researchers, and the public. A critical approach to the oral testimony and interpretations are necessary in the use of oral history." The Oral History Association
- Oral History in the Digital AgeA comprehensive resource which connects to the latest information on digital technologies pertaining to all phases of the oral history process.
Oral history organizations
There are a number of centers and organizations in the United States, dedicated to the practice of oral history:
Listing of International Oral History Organizations
Baylor Institute for Oral History
International Oral History Association
Michigan Oral History Association
New England Association for Oral History
Northwest Oral History Association
Oral History Mid-Atlantic Region (OHMAR)
Southwest Oral History Association
Texas Oral History Association
Why do Oral History?
Oral History Research Resources
The databases listed here contain both articles about oral history and, in some cases, articles in disciplines that use oral history as a source.
- Biography: Gale in Context This link opens in a new window
Includes authoritative reference information alongside magazine and journal articles, primary sources, videos, audio podcasts, and images. Covering a vast array of people from historically significant figures to present-day news-makers. Search or browse to find people based on occupation, role, or historical period, or search based on name, occupation, nationality, ethnicity, birth/death dates and places, or gender.
- Biography Reference Bank This link opens in a new window
Search for individuals based on any combination of occupation, activity, gender, place of origin, birthday and lifespan. Limit by source type, and searchable indexes can be used to browse by biography name, document type, geographic terms and more. Original content supplemented with new biographies and updated versions of preexisting articles.
- Current Biography Illustrated This link opens in a new window
Contains biographical profiles on celebrities, politicians, business people, writers, actors, sports figures, artists, scientists, and others. Search by occupation, activity, gender, place of origin, birthday etc.