BRITISH LIBARY : ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS :UNLOCKING OUR SOUND HERITAGE :

 ORAL HISTORY JOURNAL AUTUMN 2019 VOL: 47 NO:2

THE BRITISH LIBARY : DR ROBERT PERKS LEAD CURATOR ORAL HISTORY

ROB PERKS SENDS THIS UPDATE: THE BRITISH LIBRARY MAJOR HERITAGE FUND – SUPPORTED “UNLOCKING OUR SOUND HERITAGE ” INITIATIVE IS DIGITISING TWENTY FIVE ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS FROM THE BRITISH LIBRARY`S OWN HOLDINGS OVER THE COMING MONTHS, AND IS AIMING TO MAKE THESE AVAILABLE ONLINE BY 2020 WHERE PERMISSIONS CAN BE OBTAINED .

THEY INCLUDE : AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE CIRCUS :BOOK TRADE LIVES ,DOWN TO EARTH : AN ORAL HISTORY OF BRITISH HORTICULTURE , AN ORAL HISTORY OF GENERAL PRACTICE 1936-1952 ,LIVES IN THE OIL INDUSTRY ,AN ORAL HISTORY OF BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHY , AND ANIMAL WELFARE ARCHIVISTS .THE TEN REGIONAL “UNLOCKING OUR SOUND HERITAGE ” HUBS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY WITH THEIR DIGITISATION PROGRAMMES.

“BUILDING ON THE 2018 BRITISH LIBARY EXHIBITION “WINDRUSH : SONGS FROM A STRANGE LAND ” FOUR YOUNG SCHOLARS PRODUCED AND LED GUIDED THEMATIC AUDIO TOURS AROUND THE BRITISH LIBARY BUILDING .EACH TOUR FEATURED A SELECTION OF AUDIO EXTRACTS FROM ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS WHICH WERE PLAYED ALOUD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE LIBARY.

THE TOUR GUIDES RECIEVED TRAINING IN DELIVERING A PUBLIC TOUR ,RESEARCH METHODS FOR ORAL HISTORY SOUND EDITING ,AND WERE MENTORED BY THE BRITISH LIBARY`S ORAL HISTORY CURATOR MARY STEWART AND CHANDAN MAHAL FROM THE “UNLOCKING OUR SOUND HERITAGE” TEAM .

THIS VITAL PUBLIC RESOURCE IS ONE OF THE MOST INPORTANT EVER DEVELOPED AND UNDERTAKEN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM  . PAT CARTER . SEPTEMBER 22ND 2019 .

CONTACT : DR ROB PERKS ,LEAD CURATOR ,ORAL HISTORY ,NATIONAL LIFE STORIES , BRITISH LIBRARY 96 EUSTON ROAD ,LONDON, NW1 2DB, TEL: 020 7412 7405/7404 E-MAIL: rob.perks@bl.uk or oralhistory@bl.uk ,website : http://www.bl.uk/

 

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William Wylie, Portsmouth Marine Artist

British Pathe News has a website which lists and shows it’s archive of films from a bygone era. People can search on town names, celebrity names and more. One film of interest to Portsmouthians and marine artist lovers is the last journey made by the late William Wylie. Please go to my Oral History page for details on how to view the Pathe News Archive.

Also see my posting for details of a talk about ‘Art in Dockyards and Dockyards in Art’.

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Archive Of Local Oral History Recordings: Portsmouth And Hampshire .

PORTSMOUTH  MUSEUMS  AND  RECORD  OFFICE.

MUSEUM  ROAD , PORSMOUTH,  HAMPSHIRE   PO1  2LJ.

ORAL   HISTORY  COLLECTION  :  CONTACT : JOHN  STEDMAN.  TEL /02392  827261.

HAMPSHIRE  RECORD  OFFICE .

SUSSEX  STREET ,  WINCHESTER  ,  HAMPSHIRE  SO23  8TH .

WESSEX  FILM  AND  SOUND   ARCHIVE  :  CONTACT : DAVID  LEE . TEL /01962  846154.

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Oral History: Great Projects To Enhance Your Skills and Knowledge!

Oral History is an empowerment process for people . You can record your history using your perhaps,  hidden skills to record your past and present day life . Peoples history has not always been valued , now is your chance to change this .People have  been enabled to tell their  history, in their way ,relatively recently with  advent of the recording process that was set in motion by the University of Chicago in  America . New technology  meant that the process became availabIe for all to use , enjoy , and to benefit from.

Prior to this, Oral History began centuries ago with  the native shaman or shamankas (wise people) and with  the community  in various societies around the world . Peoples history was passed on by the spoken word and in artistic symbolism  to record and enlighten future generations. It is a vitally important craft.

BUT……….IT CAN BE FUN TOO!

Oral History can be used in a variety of different settings ,some of which are; A funded project, life long learning , schools, instituitions, community, volunteer projects, or…..academic ,to name just a few.

The enjoyment of learning becomes evident when people are shown the skill of recording their life histories  as individuals or in a group. By people  being  taught the skill of interviewing , photography , and art and then placing this in an historical context it provides substantiation of what is being recorded by them .This can be produced as exhibitions or in book form. It can look and sound stunning as it brings to life, memories, and history too.

All age groups can benefit by the  new skills learnt and above all they have a voice . It is an invaluble process for learning ,leisure , enjoyment and making a statement of ones own.

I have taught this process for a number of years and am a member of the Oral History Society of Great Britain. If you or your group are interested in  knowing more about  courses, workshops , and the consultation service that I offer on Oral History and the  Arts then contact me , Pat Carter.

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Living Memories – Record your history for your family

Living Memories – People’s History . People  from  Portsmouth, Hampshire, and West Sussex. Everyone has a story to tell, even people who have lived what he or she thinks of as an unremarkable life. There is no such thing as ‘ordinary’ and everyone’s life experiences are different. When looking back on the past, today’s generation are fascinated by how their ancestors lived. What  is  not valued   during  a  lifetime  becomes valued  with the passing of  the years and with recognition of achievements. With the pace of change accelerating, this  fascination is  increasing. 

 I have recorded the lives of many  people in the South. Men like the underage sailor who joined the navy in Portsmouth  and later witnessed first-hand the Russian Revolution and the first Falklands War. Women like the World War 1 Clippie on the Portsmouth Trams  who was forced to leave her job when it was reclaimed by a man who came home from the war. 

 To read more on these peoples’ history click here.

 To start a community history and arts  project or to record you living memories  to pass onto your family, please see my Oral History page. Your memories – the most personal legacy you can leave.

Content  c copyright Pat Carter 2011

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Oral History

One of my specialisms is Oral History, which is a tool for recording family history, peoples’ history and social history.  To learn more please see the Oral History page.

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