What are oral histories?
An oral history is the recorded story of a persons life, which often focuses on a special happening during a persons life. Some examples are: Migration to the United States Involvement in a war or conflict such as WWII, Korea and Vietnam Experiences during the Great Depression Local history of ones community The goal is to gather stories not just about experiences of that time, but how those experiences have influenced peoples lives since then. According to Dr. Bret Eyon, author of How To Do An Oral History About The Impact of The Vietnam Era, says, Oral histories convey a dramatic, first-hand view of history, with a storytelling approach and a sense of personal experience. Conducting interviews with family and community members illuminates the ways historic developments affect everyday life. He goes on to say, Sometimes we assume that first person testimony represents the absolute truth, it is more important to approach oral history as a form of memory an individuals way of interpreti
