This month we are exploring oral history. Oral histories are a collection of stories, memories, and first-hand accounts to create an inclusive archive about a place, event, or community. They are available to anyone, but also have their own set of skills, best practices, and ethical guidelines.
First, we spoke with Dr. Anna F. Kaplan, an oral historian, project designer, historian, and educator interested in memory and how individuals and communities remember the past and tell stories to shape the future, particularly about race in the US. You will hear more about the practice of oral history, some of her favorite projects, and what oral history has to offer to the field of public history.
We then spoke with Anne Dobberteen and Allison LaCroix about the Home/Brewed oral history project at the Heurich House Museum in Washington, D.C. Allison is the Collections Manager at Heurich House and the supervisor of the oral history program. Anne was the point person on the project and conducted the interviews. They share the history of the Heurich House, the stories captured in the oral history project, and what they tell us about immigration and D.C. history.
To learn more, visit theitps.org!