Introduction to Oral History (London)
This self-contained course, organised jointly by the National Life Stories at the British Library and the Oral History Society, aims to be an informal and practical introduction to oral history interviewing.
The training includes the opportunity discuss some of the issues around oral history, life stories and memory. You will also learn about recording equipment and how to document oral history recordings.
Each course is led by one of the BL/OHS-accredited trainers. Places are limited to 10 per online course and 12 per in-person course, and demand exceeds available places so please apply early. No previous experience of oral history is required.
Please note:
- There will be no refunds for cancelled places.
- Due to high demand and in order to ensure that each course has attendees with a variety of interests and backgrounds, a maximum of two people from any one institution may book to attend each course.
- There are two methods of payment. You can pay online via PayPal, debit or credit card or you can make an offline payment where an invoice will be sent to your organisation. Please select the appropriate option in the booking form.
- If you choose to pay by invoice please note that payments for training courses will be made to National Life Stories (NLS), and the invoice will be sent by email from NLS within a week of your booking. Contact the Training Coordinator if you require further details for your purchase order number.
- In booking this training course you agree to follow the OHS Code of Conduct.
Please contact the Training Coordinator if you would like to be notified of future dates.
Course schedule
This in-person training course will take place at the British Library in London. The programme for the course is as follows (please note this is a sample structure and may differ on the day).
Timezone: London, UK.
Hourly Schedule
In-person course
- 10:00 - 10:15
- Welcome and introductions
- 10:15 - 11:15
- What is Oral History?
- Understanding memory
- 11:15 - 11:30
- Short break
- 11:30 - 13:00
- Getting started
- Aims and objectives, who to interview, question approaches, setting up the interview, interview skills
- 13:00 - 14:00
- Lunch (not provided)
- 14:00 - 14:45
- Getting started (continued)
- 14:45 - 15:30
- Documentation
- Summarising, transcription, copyright, archiving
- 15:30 - 15:45
- Short break
- 15:45 - 16:15
- An introduction to choosing your recording equipment
- 16:15 - 16:45
- Practice interview
- 16:45 - 17:15
- Evaluation of practice interview
- 17:15 - 17:30
- Review of the day, Q&A and feedback
- 25 Nov 2026
- 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
- The British Library
Organizer
-
Camille Johnston
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Email
[email protected] Oral History Training Administrator
Speaker
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Rosa SchlingBL/OHS TrainerI’m a co-director of On the Record, an oral history and creative arts organisation. I began working as an oral historian in 2008, and have also worked as a facilitator and participatory trainer around community organising, housing and homelessness. I’ve managed managed numerous oral history and community heritage projects, including Sounds from the Park: an oral history of Speakers’ Corner, A Hackney Autobiography: Remembering Centerprise, Holding the Baby: oral histories of childcare and parenting in East London, Doing it Ourselvees: the First Neighbourhood Co-operative Nursery, Writing and Reading Newham and Housmans: 60 Years of Books and Activism. I have curated several exhibitions, authored books including The Lime Green Mystery: An Oral History of the Centerprise Co-operative and produced podcasts. Currently, my work focuses on histories of childcare and parenting, community and radical bookshops and the joys of writing and reading.
