Because oral historians like to talk as well as listen, the 2017 OHA conference lineup includes plenty of informal gatherings: receptions sponsored by the International Committee and Committee on Diversity; a Presidential Reception at the Mill City Museum, site of a historic flour mill; a Newcomers Breakfast for first-time attendees; and a poster session and project bazaar.
People arriving on Wednesday also can take in evening performances and films on disparate topics, including Jewish immigrants, homelessness and mental illness, workers’ rights and Black Lives Matter—all sure to generate lively, informal discussions, a hallmark of oral history gatherings.
Participants also can choose from: a walking tour of “Eat Street,” a one-mile stretch of Nicollet Avenue south of downtown Minneapolis, known for its immigrant-owned ethnic restaurants and markets; a pub crawl of historic St. Paul, including tastings; and a two-hour ramble along “The Ave” with several local Natives who will share information about Minneapolis’ Native American Cultural Corridor.
