Structure of Oral History Weekly
Abolfazl Hassanabadi
Translated by: Fazel Shirzad
2025-8-26
Oral history has become one of the most important fields of historical study over the past two decades. Various institutions and organizations, including non-governmental groups and individuals, have actively contributed to its development. Publishing 689 weekly issues focused on specialized topics in history—particularly war history—by the Arts Center is no small feat. This achievement would not have been possible without the compassion, interest, support, and collaboration of the stakeholders and supporters of the electronic Oral History weekly.
Today, as a stakeholder and historian of oral history, I reflect on the history of oral history in Iran and the content published in this weekly. Undoubtedly, it has been the most vital tool for documenting oral history activities since its inception. Anyone wishing to study the influential oral history trends of the 2010s and early 2020s will find this weekly indispensable.
The most important aspects highlighting the significance of this weekly include:
- The opportunity to propose new topics in oral history through its editorials.
- Reporting on a wide range of oral history activities in Iran, from conferences and meetings to statistics and the functioning of oral history institutions.
- Providing a platform for novice oral historians to present their views.
- Publishing the experiences of oral history specialists on various subjects.
- Filling the gap left by the absence of a specialized oral history magazine in the 2010s by publishing useful materials and articles.
- Introducing international approaches to oral history through translated articles and materials.
- Reviewing and introducing oral history books, especially those focusing on war oral history.
- Presenting oral history projects and plans from around the world.
- Offering critical and analytical perspectives on oral history activities in Iran.
- Documenting the extracurricular activities of oral historians in cyberspace.
- Translating the weekly into English, making it the most important source reporting on Iranian oral history activities abroad.
A comprehensive review of the weekly’s overall activities shows that it has largely remained true to its original structure and mission. While this consistency has helped maintain its foundation and identity, it is essential to adapt and update its content design and presentation format to meet current needs and developments. Additionally, it is recommended that the specialized content be categorized and published in separate or thematic issues to enhance accessibility and focus.
Number of Visits: 1119
The latest
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 6
- Memories of Farshid Eskandari
- Authenticating Oral History: From Possibility to Necessity
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 28
- An Interview with Members of an Iraqi Mawkib Present at the Gatherings in Tehran
- Memoirs of Manizheh Lashkari
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 5
- 100 Questions/27
Most visited
- 100 Questions/26
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 5
- 100 Questions/27
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 27
- An Interview with Members of an Iraqi Mawkib Present at the Gatherings in Tehran
- Memoirs of Manizheh Lashkari
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 28
- Memories of Farshid Eskandari
The Editor's Missing Place on the “Deck”
The book From Deck to Heaven offers a relatively fresh approach to examining the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Navy (AJA) during the eight years of the Sacred Defense, published under the “Oral History of the Islamic Revolution” series. To compile this book, the esteemed author has utilized documentary research (referring to relevant archival centers and selecting documents) and field research ...An Exceptional Haft‑Seen Table
I wanted to celebrate the new year with my family. Together with two relief workers I boarded buses designated for transporting the wounded to Choubideh and received our mission orders. We waited for a helicopter to take us to Bandar Imam Khomeini. I was stationed near the helicopter’s touchdown zone and was slight in build. As the helicopter was about to land, I could not steady myself; the breeze generated by the rotor blades lifted me off the ground.Spring under the shadow of war
Composing the Spring special for the new year in the past years was mostly along with hope, nature’s rebirth and the promise of renewal of life. Spring has always been a reminder for returning of life and peace after the Winters’ cold. This year though, another atmosphere has settled over our land in the last days of Esfand (March).Excerpt from the Memoirs of Mohammad-Hadi Ardebilli
I registered for Konkour (university entrance exam), following the conclusion of high school. I was accepted into Tehran’s polytechnic (Amirkabir) university and began to study chemical and petrochemical engineering. There was a building named Jordan in the faculty in which religious students had prepared a small room as a house of prayer and did the noon and afternoon prayers in there.
