Introduction to Oral History (Online: morning)
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 online training course is delivered over Zoom video call. The course takes place over two consecutive morning sessions: 9.30am – 1.15pm. 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
Day 1
- 09:30 - 10:00
- Welcome and introductions
- 10:00 - 11:00
- What is Oral History?
- Understanding memory
- 11:00 - 11:15
- Break
- 11:15 - 12:30
- Getting started
- Aims and objectives, who to interview, question approaches, setting up the interview, interview skills
- 12:30 - 12:35
- Short break
- 12:35 - 13:15
- Getting started (continued)
Day 2
- 09:30 - 09:50
- Getting started (continued)
- 09:50 - 11:00
- Documentation
- Summarising, transcription, copyright, archiving
- 11:00 - 11:15
- Break
- 11:15 - 12:00
- An introduction to choosing your recording equipment
- 12:00 - 12:05
- Short break
- 12:05 - 13:00
- Practice interview and evaluation
- 13:00 - 13:15
- Review of the day, Q&A and feedback
- 20 - 21 Oct 2026
- 9:30 am - 1:15 pm
- Zoom call Time zone: London, United Kingdom GB
Organizer
-
Camille Johnston
-
Email
[email protected] Oral History Training Administrator
Speaker
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Sam SmithBL/OHS Trainer; OHS Regional AdviserI am an Oral History Society accredited trainer on the introductory and digital editing courses. I am also a regional network adviser for South Yorkshire. I am currently completing a PhD “Understanding oral history in palliative and supportive care” in the Health Sciences School at the University of Sheffield. I have been an oral historian for over 15 years, starting my career as an interviewer and coordinator on an oral history in palliative care service at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. I have also managed and consulted on several heritage oral history projects throughout the UK and worked for clients including England Heritage and the Arts Council. I am particularly interested in oral history as a form of digital legacy, and the ethics of its public reuse in the digital realm. I teach this topic at undergraduate level at the University of Sheffield. If you’re looking for oral history advice or training in or around South Yorkshire, please get in touch.
