The Oral History Programme At The University of Essex, England
1 August 2011
At the University of Essex in England, oral history has become a regular part of the Social History programme under Paul Thompson, within the Sociology Department. Here a graduate course of instruction in oral history techniques is an optional part of the M.A. in Social History, the journal "Oral History" is edited as a medium for exchanging news and discussion of oral history projects throughout the country and overseas, as well as for the publication of articles, and an extensive archive of tapes and transcripts is being built up as a by-product of work in the field by practicing historians and research students.
A major feature of the work engaged in to date has been the family history project--a survey of practices of child-rearing, family and household organization and sibling interaction in the period just before 1914, constructed on a nationwide basis by interviews with a sample of informants who were children a t that time.
In constructing the project Paul and Thea Thompson have based their sample on the categories of the census of 1911, and have worked with a lengthy questionnaire, which however is only the basis for the in-depth interviews in which the informants are led to talk freely along the line of their own perception of what is important about the question raised. Some of the findings of this survey have been used by Paul Thompson for his book, "The Edwardians".
Another area which is being pioneered is the study of occupational groups through the oral history method--especially such groups as agricultural laborers and small-boat fishermen whose traditional way of life will have passed out of living memory within another generation. Projects which graduate students currently have in hand, for instance, include one on Norfolk farm laborers, one on Essex farm women, on fishermen in Scotland and East coast ports, on ship-building workers, on the Kentish hop-fields, and on the needle trades. Concentration upon one occupation helps to delimit the field of study and provides links with both labor history and the sociology of work.
Essex historians are generous in the sharing of their technical know-how and welcoming to scholarly visitors who wish to know about their archive.
By Mavis Waters
Ms. Waters, teaches history a t York University in Toronto
The University of Essex
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Attack on Halabcheh narrated
With wet saliva, we are having the lunch which that loving Isfahani man gave us from the back of his van when he said goodbye in the city entrance. Adaspolo [lentils with rice] with yoghurt! We were just started having it when the plane dives, we go down and shelter behind the runnel, and a few moments later, when the plane raises up, we also raise our heads, and while eating, we see the high sides ...The Arab People Committee
Another event that happened in Khuzestan Province and I followed up was the Arab People Committee. One day, we were informed that the Arabs had set up a committee special for themselves. At that time, I had less information about the Arab People , but knew well that dividing the people into Arab and non-Arab was a harmful measure.Kak-e Khak
The book “Kak-e Khak” is the narration of Mohammad Reza Ahmadi (Haj Habib), a commander in Kurdistan fronts. It has been published by Sarv-e Sorkh Publications in 500 copies in spring of 1400 (2022) and in 574 pages. Fatemeh Ghanbari has edited the book and the interview was conducted with the cooperation of Hossein Zahmatkesh.Is oral history the words of people who have not been seen?
Some are of the view that oral history is useful because it is the words of people who have not been seen. It is meant by people who have not been seen, those who have not had any title or position. If we look at oral history from this point of view, it will be objected why the oral memories of famous people such as revolutionary leaders or war commanders are compiled.
