Spring School in Oral History

Participants play back their interviews (Oral History 31, 1 (Spring 2003), p91Dates

26 - 28 April 2012 (FULLY BOOKED! Sorry, but registrations for the Spring School are now closed)

Course fee

£160

Course tutor

Professor Joanna Bornat (Professor Emeritus, Open University), Dr Graham Smith (Royal Holloway), University of London), Dr Anna Green (University of Exeter), and Dr Shelley Trower (University of Hull)

The inaugural Spring School in Oral History will be held on 26-28 April 2012 at the Institute for Historical Research, London, in association with the Oral History Society. The first two days will focus upon six major themes, or issues, within oral history: memory; experience; the researcher’s habitus; re-use of recordings; representativeness and generalisability; and outputs and impacts. We will start with memory, and the first session will investigate current memory research in psychology and sociology, and discuss the ways in which these findings can help us understand and interpret oral sources. One problem faced by oral historians is the concept of experience. Are attempts to reveal ‘experience’ through recorded testimony naïve? This session will explore the status and representation of experience in oral history through the work of three oral historians, Alessandro Portelli, Luisa Passerini, and Alistair Thomson.

Given that the interview is at the centre of oral history’s method, the role of the researcher in generating and interpreting oral history evidence tends to be an abiding issue of debate and discussion. In this session the notion of ‘habitus’ is used to consider the significance of the researcher’s positioning and identity. The researcher may decide to re-use existing recorded interviews, and in another session we will consider the rewards gained from returning to archived qualitative data.

An enduring issue within oral history is the problem of generalisability and representativeness in oral history research. In part this is an issue of scale, but it is also about representing the uniqueness of remembered lives while addressing issues of historical significance. Of cutting across biography in order to make sense of a common past. Finally we will explore the production of public outcomes from oral history research, including books, journal articles and exhibitions.

The third day of the Spring School will be in part devoted to best practice in teaching oral history. Our aim here is to share ideas about teaching oral history in Higher Education, including resources, course structures, and future developments.

Those enrolling in the course should have some prior experience in recording and writing oral history, and will be asked to complete readings in advance, available through a dedicated online website. The tutors for the course are all members of the Oral History Society and will be: Professor Joanna Bornat (Professor Emeritus, Open University), Dr Graham Smith (Royal Holloway), University of London), Dr Anna Green (University of Exeter), and Dr Shelley Trower (University of Hull).

The spring school is organised by the Institute of Historical Research and is open to all who are interested in using oral history. Numbers are strictly limited and early application is recommended.

Application form

Participants should make their own arrangements for accommodation. We recommend using the list of inexpensive hotels in central London provided by The University of London Accommodation Office, or, for those courses taking place outside term-time, places may be available at University of London Halls of Residence.

Completed registration forms should be returned by email or post to:

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