Q: Tell us about documenting the history of Minnesota’s deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community through oral-visual history.
A: Although this community has a long and rich history in Minnesota, people’s stories were scattered across the landscape. This project let us collect these stories and fill a long-standing gap in the historical record. We went hunting for existing stories, and we adapted oral history methodology to record additional stories through video interviews. These interviews document people’s life experiences as members of this community and how they advocated for it. We established the term “oral-visual history” to recognize and honor the use of signed and spoken languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), tactile sign language, and English. For this project, accessibility had a double meaning. First, we included accessible information through voiceovers in English for signed interviews, captions in English for spoken interviews, and transcripts for all interviews. Second, we successfully got the interviews added to the Minnesota Historical Society’s online archives so that the public can access them.
Q: What were the original project goals and what were the outcomes?
A: The goal was to preserve first-person information about the history of activism in Minnesota’s deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community. In discussions with community members about this project, two important objectives emerged. We knew some historical materials existed out there in video format, so it was decided that they should be gathered up. It was quite a good challenge to find all the creators, interviewers, and narrators and get their permission for inclusion in this project. A lot of forms were sent out! Our efforts paid off as we processed and preserved a total of 33 interviews and 1 presentation. There were also many fantastic community members who had made important contributions to advocacy and who frankly were not getting any younger. With the availability of oral history and multimedia consultants for this project, we were able to record 7 new video interviews to capture their stories in detail.
Q: How did you find the narrators for the oral-visual history? What was that process like, for you – and for them?
A: We did not lack for potential narrators for this project, which was a wonderful problem to have! We actively consulted with members of the community, including a deaf historian, on whom they would prioritize for the 7 new interviews. Based on their recommendations, we looked for a good cross-representation of the community with respect to identity, language, and culture. We were lucky to get everybody that we wanted. They all graciously gave us a few hours of their time for the interview process, and we worked to make them as comfortable as possible. They were given information in advance on what to expect, including the questions that they would be asked. We also provided them with their preferred accommodations, such as interpreters and other supports. As interviewers, we can definitely say that we had as much fun working with them as they did in sharing their inspiring stories with us.
Q: Describe why the choice of recording technology was critical for this project and what did you use and why? Did you also use ASL interpreters?
A: The interviews were done in the narrators’ preferred languages, which included American Sign Language (ASL), tactile sign language, and spoken English. Since sign language is a visual language, it was decided to use two cameras for all interviews so that the interviewer and narrator could be recorded simultaneously. The benefit of this was that it allowed for a natural conversational flow as the narrators told their stories. Our multimedia consultant also set up a comfortable studio setting with appropriate lighting to clearly capture people’s expressions, signing, etc. The interviews were recorded in a broadcast-quality video format with audio back-up. The process did not stop there, though! Certified ASL interpreters provided initial translations for the ASL interview content, and then used them to add voiceovers in English to the signed interviews. Captions in English were also added to all interviews, and they were transcribed using oral history standards.
Q: How did you work with community leaders to develop the project? What decisions did you make together? What are some lessons you drew from working with the community?
A: A lot of initial planning was done with the participation of many community members. Public meetings were held to discuss how the history of the community had been documented to date and how oral history methodology could be adapted going forward. Members requested that the term “oral-visual history” be used to better represent the community. They also wanted each interview to be conducted and recorded in the language of both the interviewer and narrator and be available in fully accessible formats for the benefit of both the community and the public. Once the project was launched, community members continued to be actively involved. Their roles included being advisors, project managers, interviewers, and narrators. The most important lesson we drew was that projects like this one need the active support and participation of the community from beginning to end in order to be truly historically representative.
Q: Describe this oral history project’s effect on state policy. What can all oral history practitioners learn from your project, or what would you most like people to remember?
A: Everybody has a story to tell regardless of the language or communication method used, and it is our job to listen and figure out how best to record their story for the history books. This project has served to remind people of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community’s important contributions to the history of Minnesota. It has shown how both signed and spoken stories can successfully be recorded to video. It has also demonstrated additional methods for documenting and transcribing stories that are accessible in more than one sense of the word. We encourage oral history practitioners to make use of the wide variety of technologies available these days to try out these methods. While we were fortunate to have state funding for this project, one doesn’t always need to hire professional consultants and technology. Two good smartphones and basic editing tools can also do the job!
Video/Transcription Source: Minnesota Historical Society Archives
– Teika Pakalns & Barbara Sommer
The Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing maintains information on deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing history collections (at index / Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing).