User:Margretmukanyonga/sandbox

ORAL HISTORY STANDARDS

Oral history is a primary source material obtained by recording the spoken word of persons thought to have previously unavailable information that is worth preserving (Starr 1996). Oral historians seek to capture and preserve first hand information of life stories or events that would otherwise be lost and thus losing such information Defining history often depends in large part on the use of memoirs and autobiographies, on records of individual recollections of past events. Despite the difficulty in assessing the accuracy of information obtained from various data sources, the written word is given greater credence than oral accounts in academic circles. Oral history is often treated as hearsay with little to no legal standing (see Echo-Hawk 1997). Oral history is only now being integrated within the discipline of archaeology.

Therefore, there also Valuable information on a particular area/site/feature can often only be obtained through the use of oral history interviews. The use of oral testimony is strongly encouraged in most research projects. Oral interviews, however, represent only one data set that should be evaluated. Other data sets include: archaeological excavation results, ethnographic and ethnohistoric documents, oral traditions, and ethnological, artifact and photographic collections. Be sure that information is collected from a variety of sources, and during interviews, from a variety of interviewees so that potential biases can be recognized.

The following information is offered as a guide to archaeologists, anthropologists or historians who wish to expand their project’s research methodology to include the collection of information through oral interviews. Oregon SHPO strongly recommends the inclusion of this research method, however, it is important that care be taken both in the interview and recording process. Information on how to conduct oral interviews and the type of recording forms that should be used for recording collected data are illustrated below. Use of these forms is not mandatory. All forms included in these guidelines are offered as examples of forms that can be used to document the interview process and record data from completed interviews. The oral interview process outlined remains the same whether a single interview is incorporated within a project’s methodology or the project consists only of collected oral history data.

IDENTIFICATION OF PRIMARY GOAL OR OBJECTIVE

The most important step in the incorporation of any oral history data is the reason for its inclusion. What type of information do you wish to obtain and for what purpose? All participants of a project must understand the primary goal or objective of your project and believe it to be both achievable and worthwhile. This selected goal is essential, especially if future work and funding will hinge on the quality of the final product. You must keep in mind that one hundred years from now the oral histories you compile will have a value far beyond what they have today. Important topics to consider when considering adding oral history data include place name data and personal life histories, in addition to personal memories of events associated with a particular locale.

Place Names
Oral tradition, in the form of stories, songs, and place names, was the primary method for the dissemination of knowledge and instruction, from generation to generation, in societies that did not rely on written language. The identification of area place names known within the area you are attempting to focus on can often yield valuable information on any area’s past use that might not otherwise be known. While it is true that the nature of place names differ greatly depending on the culture assigning a name, all names can tell us much regarding the landform or place being named, the people doing the naming, and/or events tied to a general locale. Place names often convey diverse information on a variety of traditional features of a people. This information is especially important in an area where historical records are sparse or populations were decimated by disease and/or displaced through forced relocation. The primary information conveyed in place names often deals with the occupation of the land and the delineation of band or language territory. Names also describe resource use, population centers, trail systems, transportation routes, hunting strategies, food preservation techniques, beliefs, the general economy of an area, and clues to the identity of previous inhabitants. The meaning behind these names provides a glimpse of the ancient relationships with the land and the personal life experiences that perhaps have set one location off from another. Fragments of history can be reconstructed by studying when the distribution of names reflects the sharing of a territory with members of other language groups or where the absence of names hints at band extinction. Because place names tend to be consistent through time, their antiquity reflects the history and importance of particular locations. Place names serve as a representation of an area's history, a focus of culture and knowledge which was/is important for the maintenance of the physical and spiritual identity of a people. When a name is forgotten, more than a name is lost.

Personal Life Histories
Personal life histories and the collection of memories of events associated with a particular locale offer insights often not available in written records. It is important to gather as much information as possible regarding your area of research before comparing and contrasting the range of information from the different historical background. Often written data sources present a distinct bias, based on the original intention of the author/publishing agency. For example, early advertising along the Columbia Gorge described the lands in the Hood River, Oregon - White Salmon, Washington area as a wonderland for horticulture efforts in producing crops and fruit. Columbia deals mostly in fruit growing