Oral history is a technique used by historians to determine the unwritten cultural values, perceptions and ideas of a person or group of people. Valerie Yow explains that, "In oral history questioning with individuals, the 'closed door' of the written record gives way to the 'open door' of the interview." Oral history interviews provide valuable insight into a person's life history, including daily work, relationships with family and friends, and perceptions and understandings of the local environment.
Successful oral history interviews require mastery of specific methods. Tales of the Tidewater will focus on several informal, student-led workshops devoted to oral history techniques, including questionnaire development, transcription techniques, and interview-informant protocol.
Oral history is an especially relevant tool for investigating environmental history. The technique of oral history is helpful in understanding how local residents have interacted with their environment, how changes in the local landscape have affected their lives, and how they perceive those changes. Oral history requires a researcher to actively interact with a subject, ask informed questions and carefully draw conclusions. Oral history also presents the prospect of answers that may not have been anticipated and the chance to direct conversation in unexpected and potentially informative ways. Another positive result of oral history is the personal connection with a local resident, a first-hand glimpse into the values, perceptions and attitudes of the community.
Living History
Oral Narrative
by Anna McAlpine