INF 386H Theory and Methods of Oral History (Unique Number 28655)
Fall 2012, Thursdays 9 am – noon, classroom UTA 1.504
Prof. William Aspray – office UTA 5.432, office phone 471 3877,
bill@ischool.utexas.edu
This course offers a graduate introduction to oral history theory and methods.
Topics we will cover include:
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Theoretical and practical issues concerning oral histories
Preparing for, conducting, transcribing, and editing oral histories
Managing oral history collections
Using oral histories as a source material in various academic studies
Other uses of oral histories (e.g. in creating heritage, recreating identity and
community, and making change)
Student responsibilities:
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One discussion question on each of two readings each week, submitted no
later than 6 am on class day (late questions not accepted)
An oral history suite of products: purpose statement, question set, audio or
video interview, transcription, abstract
20- to 30-minute classroom presentation on someone else’s use of oral
history in an academic discipline or in some other public use (e.g. creating an
identity or heritage for a community)
Active participation in class discussion
A typical class meeting (other than those days devoted to student oral
presentations):
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half of the class time spent on discussing the assigned readings
the other half of the class either meeting listening to and interacting with a
visiting speaker who is involved with some kind of oral history project; or
practicing oral history techniques
Required readings (orders for both books were placed with the University
Bookstore):
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Robert Perks and Alistair Thomson, The Oral History Reader. Second edition,
Routledge, 1998. [cited below as PT]
Valerie Raleigh Yow, Recording Oral History: A Guide for the Humanities and
Social Sciences Second edition, Altamira, 2005. [cited below as Y]
Schedule:
8/30
9/6
No assigned reading
PT: Part I intro, Ch. 1-4
Y: Ch. 1
9/13
PT: Ch. 5-8
Y: Ch. 2
PT: Part II intro, Ch. 9-12
Y: Ch. 3
PT: Ch. 13-16
Y: Ch. 4
PT: Part III intro, Ch. 1720
Y: Ch. 5
PT: Ch. 21-25
Y: Ch. 6
PT: Part IV intro, Ch. 2629
Y: Ch. 7
PT: Ch. 30-34
Y: Ch. 8
PT: Part V intro, Ch. 35-38
Y: Ch. 9
none
none
none
PT Ch. 39-43, Y: Ch. 10
Y: Ch. 11, appendixes B, C
9/20
9/27
10/4
10/11
10/18
10/25
11/1
11/8
11/15
11/22
11/29
12/6
Introductory session
Quinn Stewart –
technology in oral history
projects
Purple shirts on tools of
OH
David Todd – Texas
Legacy Project
TBD
Guest instructor
(professor away at
conference)
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Class presentations
Class presentations
Thanksgiving holiday
TBD
TBD
Grading: The grade will be determined holistically, considering active and
thoughtful participation in class discussion, good discussion questions, good
performance on the oral history suite of products (purpose statement, question set,
audio or video interview, transcription, abstract), and classroom presentation.
Last revised 4 August 2012