Southeastern Louisiana University
History 488/588
Oral History Techniques
TTH 3:30-4:45, Fayard Hall 238
Professor:
Office:
Telephone:
Office Hours:
Dr. Benac
347E Fayard Hall
549-5723
M 11:00-5:00, TTH 1:00-3:00
Course Description
488/588 Oral History Techniques. Credit 3 hours. Prerequisite: Junior standing or
permission of the instructor. A survey of the methodology for collecting and preserving
oral history. Includes how to prepare and conduct interviews and to edit and index
transcriptions. Offered every two years in spring semester.
Classroom Decorum
Free discussion, inquiry, and expression is encouraged in this class. Classroom behavior
that interferes with either (a) the instructor's ability to conduct the class or (b) the ability
of students to benefit from the instruction is not acceptable. Examples may include
routinely entering class late or departing early; use of beepers, cellular telephones, or
other electronic devices; repeatedly talking in class without being recognized; talking
while others are speaking; or arguing in a way that is perceived as "crossing the civility
line." In the event of a situation where a student legitimately needs to carry a
beeper/cellular telephone to class, prior notice and approval of the instructor is required.
Turn off all cell phones and pagers before class begins.
E-Mail Communication
University e-mail policy reads (in part) as follows, "[Faculty] Uses of non-Southeastern
e-mail addresses for communication with students regarding University business or
educational matters are not acceptable...." In compliance with this policy, please use only
your SLU e-mail address when contacting me about the course. I will not respond to
non-SLU e-mail addresses. Recall, that your SLU e-mail accounts are accessible through
the Internet via "Web-Mail" which can be reached from the SLU homepage:
http://www.selu.edu." Sending an e-mail does not absolve you of your responsibility to
attend class or complete assignments. You must receive recognition of your e-mail
before it is considered communication.
NOTE: It is the policy of the University that the classroom is not a place for children,
and that students are not to bring their family members for day care or baby sitting.
NOTE: If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking accommodations under the
Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to self-identify with the Office of
Disability Services, Room 203, Student Union. You must bring me documentation from
the Office of Disability Services at least two weeks prior to any assignment to which it
applies.
Last Day to withdraw is Friday, March 18th
Academic Honesty
No form of cheating will be tolerated. Academic dishonesty, in any form, will result in
immediate punishment to the full extent outlined in the General Catalogue. For
examples regarding citations and what constitutes plagiarism see Kate L. Turabian, A
Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
The history department now offers a minor in African American Ethnic Studies.+
Eighteen (18) hours are required for a minor in African American Ethnic
Studies as follows.
Group I (3-6 hrs)
ENGL 310
ENGL 428
Literature
African American Literature
African American Literature since 1900
Group II (9 hrs)
HIST 487
POLI 407
SOC 411
History, Politics, and Society
African American History
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Race and Ethnic Relations
Group III (3-6 hrs)
COMM 410
HIST 463
HIST 466
HIST 488
Culture and Cultural Resources
Intercultural Communication
Local and Regional History*
Family History*
Oral History*
+Cultural Resources Management majors must take a 6-hour sequence in HIST
101/101H and 102/102H or HIST 201/201H and 202/202H.
*The student's individual project in the class must have an
African-American emphasis. You can not get credit for taking this course twice so be
sure to decide whether or not you want to pursue the minor early in the semester.
Office hours and availability
I will be in my office during the scheduled hours to provide any assistance that could lead
to your success in the course. Feel free to call me at my office number listed on the
syllabus. If you are unable to reach me leave a message clearly stating your name,
number, and when you will be there and I will try to return your call one time, I will not
“play phone-tag”.
Overview
History 488/588 is designed to give students a theoretical and practical background in the
creation and use of oral history sources. In order to accomplish these goals we will read a
wide selection of items dealing with the field and engage in a substantial group project.
This semester we will be investigating two projects: an oral history of the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin shipping industry and an oral history of people who resided in and
worked at the Old Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge.
Objectives
I have three primary objectives in this course: (1) to present a thorough evaluation of the
theoretical and historiographical traditions of the field; (2) to demonstrate and explain the
proper procedures for creating and preserving oral history materials; (3) to encourage the
skills of critical reading and thinking and effective communication. Students should
leave the course with the necessary knowledge and experience to create scholarly oral
history projects.
Requirements/Attendance
Make-up work will only be accepted when you provide a suitable written excuse from a
doctor or proper university official (car troubles, family illnesses, weddings, etc. are not
acceptable excuses). See the General Catalogue for approved absences. Any assignment
turned in late will be docked one full letter grade for each class period it is late. All
assignments are already scheduled, if you have a pre-existing conflict you must notify me
within the first week of courses. Because this is an upper-level class in which discussion
is important attendance is crucial. Each student is allowed 4 absences, excused or
otherwise. Every absence after that point will result in a full letter grade reduction in
your final grade.
Grading Scale
A=90%
B=80-89%
C=70-79%
D=60-69%
F=anything below 59%
Grading
Participation
20%
Critical analysis paper
Interview critique
Project outline
Movie critique
Book critique
Final project
15%
5%
20%
5%
5%
30%
Assignments
(includes discussion, transcription, transcription
analysis)
Critical Analysis Paper—Critically analyze the practice of oral history. Consider all
readings and discussions. Sample subjects: Is oral history a method or a field? What are
the potential uses and misuses of oral history? (3-5 pages for undergraduates, 5-7 pages
for graduates) Be sure to cite your sources properly.
Interview Critique—Two page critique of the interviewer’s technique and question
selection.
Project Outline—Includes outline of research, potential questions, timetable, and critical
review of project design
Movie Critique—Two page critique of the movie’s use of oral-history sources.
Book Critique—Two page critique of the author’s use of oral-history sources and success
in writing for the selected audience.
Final Project—Includes research bibliography,
2 copies of CD’s, transcriptions, consent forms, biographical information on
interviewees, and paper placing the interviewee’s comments in historical context (8-10
pages for undergraduates, 10-15 for graduates) and a revised critical review of project
design
Interviews/transcriptions—Each student will be responsible for conducting interviews
and transcribing the CD’s that are generated (specifics will be supplied in class).
Students will use recording and transcription equipment supplied by the professor.
Because of the shared nature of this equipment students will have to check out the
recorders and reserve times for the transcription equipment and therefore should begin
early in the semester. Students will also assume full responsibility for the equipment
while it is in their possession.
Texts
David K. Dunaway and Willa K. Baum, Oral History [Rental book]
Donald A. Ritchie, Doing Oral History [Rental book]
Martha Howell and Walter Prevenier, From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to
Historical Methods (Cornell University Press, 2001) [Purchase]
William Lynwood Montell, Killings: Folk Justice in the Upper South (The University
Press of Kentucky, 1986) [Purchase]
Additional readings will be assigned from articles available on JSTOR
Schedule
Week 1—Introduction, What is Oral History?
Activities: Discuss readings, form groups
Readings: Ritchie, 11-18: Dunaway and Baum, 7-22 and 62-84
Week 2—History & Theory
Activities: Watch North Shore Stories, discuss readings
Readings: Dunaway and Baum, 29-61: and Alistair Thompson, “Fifty Years on: An
International Perspective on Oral History,” JAH (85, 2, Sept 1998) 581-595, and
Mechling, “Oral Evidence and the History of American Children's Lives,” JAH, Vol. 74,
No. 2 (Sep., 1987), 579-586.
Week 3—The role of memory
Activities: Guest Speaker, Charles Elliot, discuss readings,
Readings: Howell, 1-42: Dunaway and Baum, 87-134: Montell, xiii-64: and
Thelen, “Memory and American History,” JAH 1117-1129: and PohlandtMcCormick, “‘I Saw a Nightmare...’: Violence and the Construction of
Memory (Soweto, June 16, 1976),” History and Theory, Vol. 39, No. 4 (Dec.,
2000), 23-44.
Week 4—Legal and ethical concerns (No class on Tuesday—Mardi Gras Holiday)
Activities: Discuss readings
Readings: Ritchie 75-79 and 182-184: Dunaway and Baum, 161-172: Montell
65-125: Cutler, “Oral History. Its Nature and Uses for Educational History,”
History of Education Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Summer, 1971), 184-194:
Cahn “Sports Talk: Oral History and Its Uses, Problems, and Possibilities for
Sport History,” The Journal of American History, Vol. 81, No. 2. (Sep., 1994),
594-609: Blee, “Evidence, Empathy, and Ethics: Lessons from Oral Histories
of the Klan,” The Journal of American History, Vol. 80, No. 2. (Sep., 1993),
pp. 596-606: and Flaherty, “Privacy and Confidentiality: The Responsibilities
of Historians,” Reviews in American History, Vol. 8, No. 3. (Sep., 1980), 419429.
Week 5—The Uses of Oral History
Activities: Discuss readings,
Readings: Howell, 43-68: Montell, 126-165: Gardner, “Oral History and
Philanthropy,” JAH (79, 2, Sept 1992) 601-605: Lane, “Oral History and
Industrial Heritage Museums,” JAH (80, 2, Sept 1993) 607-618: Greenwell
“Oral History Collections of the Presidential Libraries,” JAH (84, 2, Sept 1997)
593-603: Halpern, “Oral History and Labor History,” JAH (Sept 1998) 596610: and “'Are You Calling Me a Fascist?': A Contribution to the Oral History
of the 1968 Italian Student Rebellion,” Journal of Contemporary History, Vol.
36, No. 4. (Oct., 2001), 581-597
Week 6—Overview of the technology needed, discuss and turn in critical analysis
paper
Activities: Practice with equipment—discuss various technologies,
Readings: Marantz PMD 670 instruction manual: Ritchie 57-64.
Week 7—How to do the Interview
Activities: Listen to portions of an interview, critique it the second day of the week—
turn in critique, discuss readings, discuss potential questions and interview procedure
for project, discuss how interviewees should be selected
Readings: Howell, 69-87: Ritchie, 84-109
Week 8—The transcription
Activities: Discuss readings, present research outline—discuss a transcription handed
out on the first meeting of the week, bring discussion notes to class
Readings: Transcription: Howell, 88-118: Ritchie, 64-75 and 110-133: Ritchie,
et.al., “Interviews as Historical Evidence: A Discussion of New Standards of
Documentation and Access,” The History Teacher, Vol. 24, No. 2. (Feb.,
1991), 223-238: and Liddle and Richardson, “Voices from the Past: An
Evaluation of Oral History as a Source for Research into the Western Front
Experience of the British Soldier, 1914-18,” Journal of Contemporary History,
Vol. 31, No. 4. (Oct., 1996), 651-674.
Week 9—Movie
Activities: watch movie, critique it on second day—turn in critique
Readings: Each student will do light research and include a short bibliography in their
critique.
Week 10— No regular class scheduled
Activities: Group meetings to discuss project status, also discuss readings—as arranged
with professor
Readings: Ritchie 19-46: Dunaway and Baum 135-160: and Howell, 119-150
Week 11— No class, Spring Break
Activities:
Readings:
Week 12— Narrative
Activities: Discuss readings—turn in analysis of author’s use of oral history
Readings: Any narrative based on oral history approved by professor.
Week 13—— The importance of clear planning, goals, subjects, timetables—preparing to
interview
Activities: Group meetings to discuss project status, also discuss readings—turn in
transcriptions
Readings: Dunaway and Baum 175-214 and 306-320: and Jones and Osterund, “Breaking
New Ground,” JAH 551-564
Week 14—Doing & evaluating transcription
Activities: editing & critiquing
Readings: Ritchie, 185-206: and each group reads and critiques the other’s
transcriptions—turn in critique
Week 15—In class presentations
Activities: Discuss readings—Present final project
Readings:
Week 16—In class presentations
Activities: Discuss readings—Present final project
Readings:
Final Exam Period
2:45-4:45 Friday, May 13