Research
Oral History Archive
Status: in progress, due for release in 2011
Often when we think about history, dusty books and documents, archives and libraries come to mind. In fact history is all around us, in our own families and communities, in the living memories and the experiences of older people. Stories can often be passed from one generation to the next as is the tradition in many communities; this is history migrating from the past into the present. This kind of history – the experiences and stories that we all gather as we go through life - is often best conveyed in the form of Oral History.
This oral history archive project seeks to explore the settlement processes and experiences of the pioneering first generation who arrived in the UK from 1950-79 and have since settled. They came from diverse backgrounds, and various countries seeking a life in the UK; for some this was to be temporary and for others a more permanent affair.
- Oral history is the recording of people's memories. It is the living history of everyone's unique life experiences.
- Oral history is a vital tool for our understanding of the recent past. It can bring experiences to life in a very different way to the written word.
- By recording the experiences of ‘ordinary people’, oral history enables people who have been hidden from history to be heard, and show that they may have extraordinary things to say which the present and future can learn from.
- Oral history is new and exciting because it is interactive and provides opportunities for inter-generational sharing.
As this project involves a plethora of skills and experience the Policy Research Centre seeks volunteers and / or interns in the following areas:
- Making a short film: using a camera, lighting, sound and background
- Editing video recordings: dubbing, sound, subtitles etc
- Conducting an interview in these languages: Arabic, Gujarati, Bangla, Urdu and Punjabi
- Web development and related technical skills
- Web design
- Sourcing video archives and pictures
- Oral history and / or social history
- Still photography
- Background research
If you would like to get involved and have the skills / experience / interest to contribute then email your CV, or for further information contact: sughra@policyresearch.org.uk
