Oral History and Digital Humanities: Voice, Access, and Engagement

by Douglas A. Boyd, Mary A. Larson (Editor)

Over the last two decades, much has changed in the world of oral history, as digital audio and multimedia have opened up a wide range of possibilities for presentation of material. The doors of the archives have been blown from their hinges - and "access" has come to have a completely different meaning. Oral history research no longer necessarily entails traveling from one university or museum to another, reading typewritten transcripts or listening to second-generation analog cassettes designated as user copies. Scholars and the general public alike can go to the Internet for information on available recordings, and even if an institution's audio or transcripts are not online, chances are good that a detailed finding aid is, and a call to that repository can result in a patron receiving a digital copy of an interview. Networked information and linked data empower users and researchers to connect oral history resources to other relevant resources. All of this results in expectations for access that are vastly different than they were a mere twenty years ago.
This cutting-edge book reviews the theoretical and practical developments that have occurred in the practice of oral history since digital audio and video became practical working formats. Over the years, the digital revolution has changed how oral historians conceptualize projects, how they deal with ethical issues, how they process their materials, how they think about sound and video, and how materials are made accessible. All of this has placed oral history squarely in the middle of the conversation about digital humanities. Each chapter covers a different groundbreaking project in the history of digital oral history from the perspective of the project's organizer, explaining the reasons those projects were developed in the first place, how the researchers solved problems they faced, and how the solutions evolved over time with advancing technologies. Most pertinently, they discuss how the problems that started them on their digital paths are being dealt with currently, and what they see for the future of oral history. The result is an illuminating survey of oral history's digital evolution, distilling the insights of pioneers in the field and applying them to the constantly changing electronic landscape of today.

Genres: History, Oral History, Nonfiction, Grad School

222 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2014

Reviews

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historically, oral history interviews have been conducted either in person with the interviewer taking notes, or recorded through analog technology and later transcribed. Today most interviews are conducted via digital means using digital audio and videography. This book explores topics in utilizing digital technology to conduct oral histories for research purposes. This book is an anthology of eleven articles in three sections that include: Orality/Aurality, Discovery and Discourse, Oral History and Digital Humanities Perspectives.

Most articles discuss the usage of digital audio and video during the oral history interview, transcribing, and archiving processes. Each author uses their own oral history projects as case studies of the process of using newer technologies and the issues they have faced with technology. Also discussed is an emerging genre/program within the liberal arts: Digital Humanities.

Although the technology discussed is already somewhat outdated seven years after the publication of this book, the theme that does come through is one of obsolescence and preparing for future changes. Technology seemed to evolve slowly in the late 20th century. In the 21st century, we are seeing major advances that could affect the way historians, anthropologists, and sociologists conduct oral histories.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after hearing a talk by Douglas A. Boyd. It is an interesting and detailed exploration of oral history. The chapters are written to show good examples of what is possible and in some instances to show what could have been done better (like not reducing the background sounds). Ideas such as Creative Commons licensing, are included.

The importance of long format oral history is discussed, and that the length of the interview and the detail recorded add value and provide much research potential. Oral history is not about snappy sound bites. The importance of oral history being online, and searchable (through the use of methods such as OHMS) is also covered. That oral history is listened to, is also highlighted. It sounds obvious, but when much access has been via transcript, sometimes that it is a spoken method can be forgotten. There is good coverage of the importance of access to the recordings so it is important for non-digital formats to be digitised, catalogued, indexed and made available for people to research and listen to for other reasons.

"I believe in the primacy of the recording for our professional practice, while fully understanding and acknowledging the role of text to facilitate discovery and access" and looking for "sustainable models to connect archival users to the online primary sources".

It is a book I will have to reread, and keep thinking about the ideas raised in it.

[Stephen Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for class and it provides a great overview of the field. I like how they waited to the end of the book to attempt to define digital humanities so that we could formulate a definition of our own.

[H. Givens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slim and readable, but full of useful information. There's a good balance of theory with examples from the contributors' work, and the essay structure was a good choice. Contributors are noted and central in the field, and they were able to bring a well-rounded variety of considerations to the topic. I also appreciated the tone -- it discusses challenges and problems in the field, but in a practical way, not a handwring-y one. They convey the advantages and joys of the field as well, because that's the field they've chosen. I also appreciate the practical and positive tone, without the condescension and fear that usually comes with any discussion of the digital realm. Again, these are practitioners, so you're really getting an inside view and inside advice, and I love that.

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a newcomer to oral history and interviewing, but found this to be a great introduction to / overview of the past couple of decades of the discipline, as well as a useful framework for reflecting on my own projects. Some useful concepts from individual chapters... Gluck's tripartite text/texture/context; Boyd's clear-eyed and practical look at the digital project- and collection-building sides of DH and its untenable resource demands; Bill Wasik (quoted in Sloan's chapter) on "nanostories" - the way popular attention imbues clips and such with "15 seconds of meaning"; and Hardy's incredibly engaging way of talking about work, a rare ability.