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.
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Validation: Challenges and Necessities
Where does truth stand in oral history? How can the correctness of a narrative be recognized? Does fact-checking matter? If there is exaggeration in the reporting of some accounts, how can it be detected? Is it possible to record an event accurately through the recording of a narrative? Readers and users of oral history works are often faced with these questions, and sometimes encounter doubts about some oral history works.From Revolutionary Circles to the Military Arm of the Islamic Government
In those days, it became clear that certain institutions had to be established very quickly—institutions suited to the temperament, expectations, and lingering aspirations of the younger generation; young people who had been politically active before the Revolution and, in some cases, had been directly entangled in arrests, imprisonment, ...Authenticating Oral History: From Possibility to Necessity
The use of oral history as one of the historical sources has long been one of the principal challenges facing oral historians and those who employ it in contemporary historiography. The development of international standards for oral history, as well as IRIB standards, was intended to address the criticisms raised in this regard. The relationship between Diplomatics in written records and oral history is reciprocal.100 Questions/27
What is the place of research ethics in compiling oral history?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
