Oral History at a Distance

Abstract

Oral History at a Distance is the first publication to explore both the ideas behind and application of oral history in remote projects.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, working from a distance is now an ongoing and necessary approach in the oral historian’s toolkit. In this volume, the experienced team members of Baylor University’s Institute for Oral History provide a road map for adapting traditional best practices and procedures to this new environment while maintaining the standards oral historians hold dear. The authors present chapters on the range of oral history practice—project design, ethical considerations, project management, interviewing, technology, and preservation. While this book is always concerned with how to do remote oral history well, it also examines the changed dynamics and new considerations of moving from face-to-face projects to distance work. In this, the authors are joined by an international host of practitioners who have had their own experiences with oral history at a distance and share their insights from their work through informative case studies.

As the practice of oral history moves into a new era, this book is an essential resource for oral historians—whether they are just starting out or wanting to stay innovative in their endeavors.