Oral History Workshop

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The Hall Center’s annual Oral History Workshop has provided invaluable support to the development of oral history research in Kansas since 1999. Based on lessons learned during this decade of successful outreach, the workshop has been redesigned for 2010 to provide a more in-depth training experience in oral history methods and practice.  Twenty-two individuals have been chosen to participate in this year’s two-day workshop.  They will benefit from a small group setting directed by knowledgeable oral history practitioners.  Topics will include the fundamentals of oral history research, from ethical questions to the selection of equipment. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss their own projects and receive feedback from the workshop group.

Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Texas, Austin, will deliver the keynote address at 7:30 pm on Friday, June 18 in the Hall Center’s Conference Hall.  This lecture is open to the public.  Rivas-Rodriguez spearheaded the U.S. Latino & Latina World War II Oral History Project. The project has collected interviews with over 700 men and women throughout the country.  It has several components designed to reach audiences ranging from school children, to academics, to the general public. At the heart of the project is a rich archive of primary source material, in the form of videotaped interviews, photographs and other documentation.

Tami Albin and Carmaletta Williams are co-directing the weekend workshop.  Albin is the KU Libraries’ Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach Librarian and liaison to Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Kansas. She holds an M.L.I.S from the University of Western Ontario and is the Director of “Under the Rainbow: Oral Histories of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer People in Kansas.”  Williams is Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Professor of African American Studies at Johnson County Community College. She earned BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Ph.D. in English from KU. Dr. Williams is the co-editor of the e-book Of Two Spirits: American Indian and African American Oral Histories.

Please contact Hall Center Director Victor Bailey (864-7822, vbailey@ku.edu) or Associate Director Kristine Latta (864-7823, klatta@ku.edu) for more information.

Learn more about the Kansas Humanities Council Heritage Grants for Oral History Projects. Visit their website, or download their grant guidelines.