What Is Oral History?
Memory is a repository for history—one that can be unlocked by the voice. But living memory can be lost forever if it is not recorded. That is why historians across the Smithsonian are racing to conduct—and preserve—oral histories. These in-depth interviews illuminate collections and present history from the perspective of those who lived it.
Resources
Is there someone whose life experiences you would like to record for posterity? Get started with these Smithsonian resources:
- The Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide
- The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives’ “How to Do Oral History Guide”
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s “Soul Talk: An Oral History Workshop and Discussion”
Oral History at the Smithsonian: Then and Now
Over the course of her 50-year career, Pamela Henson, former historian at the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, used everything from typewriters to iPhones to conduct oral histories about the history of the Smithsonian. Now, Zoom is a popular tool.
Learn about oral history projects happening now across the Smithsonian:
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