Preserving the valuable memories of living people is the vitally important task of an oral historian. Through the interviewing process, history is recorded from the first-hand experience of the persons who have lived it. For students of history past eras and specific historical events become immeasurably more vivid when supplemented with the personal stories and anecdotes of individuals. Naturally, facets of history are continually illuminated by the light of the smallest of details in a person's life. Oral history is one important key or tool to this process of illumination.
Oral history projects can be generated in any community by anyone. Elementary students up to senior citizens can plan and produce an effective oral history program. Just as the students at Cokedale have accumulated a wealth of information about the daily life in coal mining communities through personal interviews, you can also introduce students into this fascinating and rewarding area of public history. Year after year, more and more people share their memories for preservation, and their stories are invaluable in helping to make history as accurate as possible. This unit can be used in conjunction with the Unit Plan: Public History if the instructor wishes to lengthen the amount of time to be spent learning about Public History.
For corrections and contributions regarding this World Wide Web page, contact Dr. Vernon L.
Williams, ACU Box 28130, Department of History, Abilene Christian University, Abilene,
Texas 79699.
E-mail: vwilliams@nicanor.acu.edu
FAX 915-674-2369
telephone 915-674-2150.