Oral History Interviewing: Challenges, Significance, and Strategies

The Oral History Website, in an effort to delve deeper into the complexities and challenges surrounding the production of oral history works and memoirs, has engaged in discussions with several scholars and practitioners in the field. These conversations will be presented to readers in the form of brief analytical notes.

Benefits of Oral History

History, as one of the fundamental disciplines within the humanities, has evolved through time to adopt various forms and methodologies. Concepts such as "written history," "comprehensive history," and "oral history" exemplify these approaches. Written history relies on documents and textual sources for the analysis and composition of historical accounts, while comprehensive history seeks to integrate various sources—both written and oral.

Various Narrations and Interpretations in Oral History

In oral history, sometimes the memories of a person are narrated and the topic of discussion is that person; but sometimes, oral history expresses an event or a topic. In this regard, if the focus of oral history is on the "subject", the more narratives we have, the better and more accurate results will be obtained, and the more we will understand the essence of the case.

Oral History School – 8

Content editing of oral history should be close to the interviewee’s style

According to Oral History Website, Dr. Morteza Rasoulipour in the framework of four online sessions described the topic “Compilation in Oral History” in the second half of the month of Mordad (August 2024). It has been organized by the Iranian History Association. In continuation, a selection of the teaching will be retold:

Oral History School – 7

The interviewer is the best compiler

According to Oral History Website, Dr. Morteza Rasoulipour in the framework of four online sessions described the topic “Compilation in Oral History” in the second half of the month of Mordad (August 2024). It has been organized by the Iranian History Association. In continuation, a selection of the teaching will be retold:

Oral History School – 6

The position of “standard language” in compiling oral history

According to Oral History Website, Dr. Morteza Rasoulipour in the framework of four online sessions described the topic “Compilation in Oral History” in the second half of the month of Mordad (August 2024). It has been organized by the Iranian History Association. In continuation, a selection of the teaching will be retold:

Works of Oral History and Upcoming Problems-3

Privacy

In order to learn more about the problems and challenges of producing oral history works or memoirs, the oral history website has conducted conversations with some experts and activists in this field, which will be presented to the audience in the form of short notes. Maintaining the interviewee's privacy is one of the duties of the oral history interviewer.

Oral History School – 5

Compilation of texts requires proficiency over all types of writings

According to Oral History Website, Dr. Morteza Rasoulipour in the framework of four online sessions described the topic “Compilation in Oral History” in the second half of the month of Mordad (August 2024). It has been organized by the Iranian History Association. In continuation, a selection of the teaching will be retold:

Oral History School-4

Oral History Interviewer Should Be “Patient”, “Cautious”, and “Unbiased”

According to Iranian Oral History Website, the fourth online session of “Oral History School” was held by Iranian History Association on Tuesday evening, July 9, 2024. In this session, Dr. Abolfazl Hasanabadi gave a lecture focused on “Interview: Stages and Manners”.

Oral History School-3

From Defining the Plan to Estimating the Costs of Oral History Project

According to Iranian Oral History Website, the third online session of “Oral History School” was held by Iranian History Association on Monday evening, July 8, 2024. In this session, Dr. Mehdi Abolhasani Taraghi gave a lecture focused on “Finding a Topic and Defining the Plan in Oral History”.
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Excerpt from the Memoirs of Mehdi Chamran

The Journey of the Members of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council of Lebanon to Iran
"... At that time, Dr. Mostafa Chamran had not yet arrived in Iran; he was still in Lebanon. We were eagerly anticipating his arrival… One day, while I was walking through the corridors of the Prime Minister’s Office—since my duties during those days were predominantly based there— ...
Meeting with the mother of the martyr defender of the shrine; Qadir Sarlak

A House Colored with Sacrifice

Stepping into a house that smells of sacrifice and courage is not something that can be easily described. In this house, every wall has a story of courage and as if time had stopped. Our meeting with the mother of martyr Sarlak was a meaningful and emotional moment. A patient and steadfast woman welcomed us with a smile that revealed a deep longing for her martyred son.

The Uprising in Amol

On the 6th of Bahman 1360 (January 26, 1982), one of the most significant political-security events following the victory of the Islamic Revolution occurred. This was the assault on the city of Amol by a faction of the Communist Union of Iran, known as the Sarbedaran or Jangali. Their target was to seize control of the city, particularly attacking the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij bases.
At the Unveiling of “War and State”:

Minister of Health Praises the Prestigious Sadr Family

The book War and State in the Memoirs of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr, authored by Mohammad Qobadi and published by Sooreh Mehr, was officially unveiled at the The Artistic Sect of the Islamic Republic. According to the Sooreh Mehr Publishing website, this event was attended by Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education;