Lynn Lewis

Nuts and bolts of technical side of oral history from project planning to interviewing to some recording.

Fieldwork was centered on practical skills and the hands-on experience of conducting interviews. I learned a great deal through my interactions with fieldwork partners. Additionally, the in-class discussions were helpful in addressing questions and challenges that arose during practice.

This class was an “oral history 101” and so it had teachings about oral history, transcribing, archiving, indexing, and other aspects of the practice. It is a mix of theory and practice, with the first being in class and the second being out of class. I learned a lot about project design and how to structure my ideas into a concise timeline and plan.

I learned what it takes to create and build a fieldwork project, gained more confidence in my ability to lead a project, and developed a clearer understanding and reference points for what it means to be a practicing oral historian and to create a meaningful project.

project design, and thinking about working independently

Skills and techniques of oral historians

I learned key components of oral history, like interview skills, transcripts, archiving, etc. I appreciated workshopping ideas in the peer groups, and workshop. I learned about a project design and how to make and implement an oral history project. A lot of the basics of oral history!

A great class for those who don’t mind heavy workloads and enjoy practical, hands-on learning — especially since conducting interviews is a key component of this course. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2024 Course: OHMAGR5020_001_2024_3-ORALHIST:FIELDWORK/DOCUMENTN : OHMAGR5020_001_2024_3 - ORAL HIST:FIELDWORK/DOCUMENTN Instructor: Lynn Lewis