OHA News

The Oral History Association joins the American Historical Association in condemning Poland’s recently enacted legislation making it illegal to publicly discuss Polish complicity in Nazi war crimes. The law is a direct attack on free speech and scholarly inquiry. For Oral Historians, it is especially odious. Oral histories and survivor statements have played a central […]

New federal regulations that exempt oral history from review by Institutional Review Boards (IRB) have been delayed by at least six months. OHA has long advocated for changes to the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, known as the Common Rule. Oral history, by preserving the unique perspective of an individual, does not

by Linda Shopes Bruce M. Stave (1937 – 2017) Bruce M. Stave, editor of the Oral History Review from 1996 to1999, died on December 2, 2017. He was affiliated with the history department at the University of Connecticut for forty-seven years, most recently as Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus. For all of

We want you to continue your connection to the OHA network of oral historians! It’s never been easier to renew your membership. If you haven’t done so for 2018, there are two ways to renew. Check your email for renewal reminders with simple instructions. Another reminder is due mid-December. Use the new Member Site to renew.

Keynote speaker unravels a history mystery for OHA audience In the early decades of the 20th century, Greenwich Village was home to an odd character named Joe Gould, who coined the term “oral history,” founded an Oral History Association and walked around New York City claiming to write down everything anyone ever said to him,

By Todd Moye The work of oral historians—listening to one another across the lines that too often divide us, thinking critically, developing empathy, building community—seems more important than ever, and I am honored to serve as OHA’s president at this particular time. I know that our recently concluded Minneapolis annual meeting, whose program was so

Farewell but Not Good-bye By Kristine Navarro-McElhaney Interim Executive Director It has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me to serve the OHA as Interim Executive Director during the past year and a half.  I am grateful to have been a part of the team effort that has strengthened OHA’s position going forward as

Three oral historians within a stone’s throw of each other—if you could throw a stone 100 miles—bring an array of disparate experiences to their new posts as editorial team members for the Oral History Review. David Caruso of the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia is the new OHR editor, Abigail Perkiss of Kean University in

 An international audience of more than 200 people interested in oral history registered for the Oral History Association’s first webinar “Documenting Your Community: Planning Skills for Oral History Projects.” The Nov. 3 online workshop was presented by Mary Larson of Oklahoma State University and Jeff Corrigan of California State University Monterey Bay. Corrigan said more

Endowment earnings over the years have enabled 28 international oral history scholars to attend OHA annual meetings in the past five years, enriching experiences for everyone. In 2017, the International Committee awarded $4,000 in scholarships to four international oral historians to come to Minneapolis. Here are their thoughts about their experiences:   Lorna Barton, Scotland

The Oral History Association, in collaboration with Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, welcomes proposals for its Oct 10-13, 2018, conference. Conference co-chairs Steve Estes of Sonoma State University and Amy Starecheski of Columbia University, along with OHA Vice President Natalie Fousekis envision the annual conference as a means to “harness the power of oral history in