History 498--SEMINAR: Oral History

                                                                       "Reading" by Berthe Morisot (1841-1895)

Who makes history? The simple answer is everyone. Traditional history focuses on famous people: politicians, artists, writers. Yet, common people are the ones who experience the trends and events that historians later study. This semester you will be investigating the interaction of an individual with the wider scope of history. You will become an oral historian because you will conduct all aspects of the primary research needed for this project.
The major assignment will be for you to write an in-depth research paper(approximately 30 pages in length) about an individual whom you interview. However, you will not be writing a bibliography of this person's whole life. Instead, by getting to know your subject, you will focus on one key aspect of his/her life. You will gather that person's memories, thoughts and emotions about one significant event or era. You might write about someone's experience in war or politics, or you might decide to focus on everyday history. What was it like to be the first woman on the Ewing police force? What was it like to return to college after fighting in the Second World War? These are examples of the kinds of themes you might decide to focus on. Your paper will combine the answers you receive in your oral interview as well as library research you conduct on your topic.
The course will combine theoretical and practical discussions of oral history. We will meet as a group to discuss readings about oral history, as well as to plan the process of conducting the oral history projects. We will also discuss preservation of the materials you collect. Since you will create a recording and a transcript of the interviews you do, you will have contributed to the historical record. We will place these materials in the TCNJ library for public use. We will also put information about our subjects on our class website called "New Jersey Voices." These materials will contribute to the local history of our state.

Grading: Your grade will be based on the following criteria:
Class Participation: 30%
Short Paper: 10%
Interview recording, transcript, and website contribution: 20%
Final Paper: 40%

Readings
Hoopes, James. Oral History. An Introduction for Students
Terkel, Studs. "The Good War" An Oral History of World War II
Portelli, Alessandro. The Death of Luigi Trastulli and Other Stories. Form and Meaning in Oral History.
Strunk and White. Elements of Style (optional--a great book to help your writing)

SEMESTER SCHEDULE

Sept. 8. INTRODUCTION
What is oral history?
What are our goals for the semester?
Ideas for topics.

Sept. 22. GETTING STARTED
READ: Hoopes, Chapters 1-6 (pp. 3-71)
Terkel, all
Questions to consider:
    What kinds of questions does Terkel ask?
    How does he elicit detailed answers?
    How has oral history enriched our understanding of WWII?
    What does Hoopes think of Terkel's oral histories?
    What are Hoopes' goals for oral history students?
    What does Hoopes mean by "personality, culture, and society"?
Practical issues:
    Who will you interview? Why?
    What topics are you interested in pursuing with your subject?
    How will you arrange your interview?
    What is service learning? Do these projects fit the definition?

Oct. 13. APPLYING ORAL HISTORY
READ: Hoopes, chapters 7-10 (pp. 72-122)
Portelli, all

ASSIGNMENTS DUE IN CLASS:
    Historians have criticized Studs Terkel for not providing context for his interviews. Alessandro Portelli gives us a model for    incorporating oral history data into a well researched essay. Choose one of Terkel's interviews from The Good War. Write a 5-page paper in which you incorporate the interview with secondary-source information on a particular theme addressed in the interview segment.

Also bring in planned interview questions. (13 COPIES)

Questions to consider
    How does Portelli weave the words of his subjects in with secondary literature?
    What do you learn about the history of Terni and Harlan through oral history?
    Which essay do you think is the best? Why?

Practical issues
    Have you arranged your interview?
    How/where will you conduct this interview?
    What questions will you ask? (Bring questionnaire, which should include biographic and specific questions. Make enough       copies for everyone in the class. We will critique each others' questions and make suggestions for interview strategies.)

Nov. 3 THE INTERVIEWS
READ: Hoopes, chapters 11-13 (pages 123-148)
Reports on interviews/meetings.
Discussion of themes, problems, etc.

ASSIGNMENTS DUE: Turn in a time index, with select transcriptions.
Also hand in a journal entry, as per suggestion of Hoopes, p. 111.
(This entry should be written as soon as possible after the interview.)

Questions to consider?
How does Hoopes suggest you go about writing the paper?
What kinds of secondary materials do you need?
Are there other primary materials you can find?
Have you developed a thesis?

Practical issues?
Did your subject sign the release?
Did you write a thank-you note?
Did you collect materials which must be returned?
Do you have follow-up questions?
Choose an editing partner.
Sign up for one-on-one consultation slot.

DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER:
Make an appointment to meet with me about your work. I will have slots open every Wednesday morning of November. Be prepared to show me your bibliography and drafts of sections. Bring along the information on your person for our website. (Pictures, documents, parts of transcriptions).

By Nov. 24, give me your partner a thesis statement, outline, and at ac omplete draft of your paper. Over Thanksgiving Break, read your partner's work and make comments. Sign the bottom of each page you have edited. You will turn in the rough draft and editor's markings along with your final project. The editing you do on your colleague's work will count toward your participation grade. Make sure you give your partner his/her paperback on Dec. 1.

Nov 10. One-on-one consultations (sign up Nov. 3)
Nov. 17 One-on-one consultations (sign up Nov. 3)
Nov. 24 One-on-one consultations (sign up Nov. 3)
Dec. 1 Collect drafts from me and your editing partner. Begin revisions.

Dec. 8. THE PROJECTS
PAPERS DUE! Hand in TWO COPIES of your paper. (Include pictures and other materials). Also hand in the editor's copy as well as your own edited rough draft.
Report on projects. Each student will make a 15-min presentation on his/her final paper. We will also discuss the distribution of the project to the community.
 

THERE ARE MANY ORAL HISTORY SITES ON THE WEB.  HERE ARE SOME LINKS:

Rutgers University WWII Oral History Project
Jazz Oral History Project