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About
the Oral History Program
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- What
is Oral History?
Oral history is the technique of gathering historically pertinent information
through tape-recorded interviews. Recent advances in modern technology
have replaced traditional resources such as letters, diaries, and memoirs
with spoken or electronic messages. To prevent the loss of source materials,
universities, libraries, and other public and private organizations
charged with preserving history are collection personal observations
and memories through oral history.
- I
am conducting research. What are the holdings in the program's
collection?
The Florida State University oral history collection began in 1969
under the direction of Professor Edward F. Keuchel. Renamed the Reichelt
(Rye-kelt) Program for Oral History in 1999, the program honors the
memory and generous support of history Professor Emeritus Wallace
Ward Reichelt. The collection documents the history of Florida
State College for Women (1905-1947)
and Florida
State University, the
City of Tallahassee, and the State
of Florida. In 1995, the program expanded
to include military experiences, with a timely emphasis on veterans
and civilian personnel involved
in World
War II, Korean
War, and Vietnam. Our areas of interest include military service
as well as all lifetime experiences of the wars.
Scholars,
researchers, and students are encouraged to utilize these audio
and transcribed sources. The
collection is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment.For
brief descriptions about our holdings, go to Archived
Collections. For additional information on how to use the collection,
go to Using the Collection.
- I
am interested in making a contribution. How are oral
interviews conducted?
Interviews are conducted in person or by telephone, transcribed, processed,
and archived according to professional guidelines established by the
national Oral History Association. Interviewees are encouraged to edit
their transcripts for accuracy. Each interviewee receives a final copy
of his or her interview for personal records and family members.
We
welcome anyone who has memories to share and one of
the fundamental initiatives of the program is to be
sensitive to and respect the right of privacy to all
contributors. If you, or someone you know is interested
in sharing memories, then please go to our Online
Interview Request Form.
- I
am interested in learning how to conduct oral history
interviews. Is there a course?
An Oral History course is offered each Spring
semester through the History Department. The course traces
the development of oral history as a means of collecting historical
information, with emphasis on the practical application of
modern techniques. With guidance from a trained oral historian,
students
practice interviewing techniques, conduct preliminary inquiries
on subjects, follow through with pertinent interviews, and
incorporate their information in research papers.
The
course is open to all students, regardless of their discipline,
and is recommended for all graduate students doing research
in areas where oral history could be applied. It is required
for graduate students in the Historical Administration
and Public History Program.
Note: There
is a required Oral History Tutorial
which is offered during the Fall semester which serves
as a prerequisite for the Spring
Oral History course. For details, contact Dr.
Robin Sellers, the Program Director, or Debbie
Perry, the History Graduate Advisor.
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