Academic research center dedicated to using first-person narratives as methods of documenting 20th century history.
Activities
The Center for the Study of History and Memory at Indiana University builds upon its work in the field of oral history while broadening the range of its research projects to address the many ways that people remember, represent, and use the past in public and private life. The Center provides documents and guidelines for how to legally collect testimony and how to effectively interview people. An archive of oral histories and newsletters, both available online, offer prime examples and best practices in interviewing.
Relevant Projects
- Testimonios. Documenting the lives and faith of Latino immigrants.
- Castleton, Indiana in Transition. 1983 project documents the transition of Castleton from a farm town in Indiana to a city suburb.
- Dubois County series. 1993-1999 series chronicles the German-American communities of Dubois County, the interplay between religious and ethnic identities, and the nature of community and community identity.
Relevant Methodologies
The Center carefully prepares for and conducts personal interviews with people. The Center also works in the field of Memory Studies, which investigates how memories are constructed, how they change, and how reliable they can be as primary historical sources. The Center encourages the development of oral histories by providing and developing information on “best practices”—or strategies for improving the quality of histories from the preparation stages through interviewing and finally documentation. Ethical responsibilities are a major focus of the Center, including procedures for obtaining consent and deeds of gifts for recorded histories and testimonies. The Center’s work is similar to that of the Oral History Research Center at the University of Las Vegas (UNLV).
Region
National
More Information
Weatherly Hall North, Room 122
University of Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
47405
812-855-2856 (phone)