In February, 2019, the NAACP Oral History Project exhibit opened at the Berkshire Museum.  It closed in May.  But now, thanks to two University of Massachusetts students, studying with Professor of History Sam Redman, Helen Kyriakoudes and Rachel Panasci Lima, that exhibit is online.  You can see the link to Their Stories here .  Thank… Read more

  We all have stories in our archives.  We know it is best to bring the stories out, for people to hear and see them.  But how?  One idea:   Involve the narrator, maybe she or he will have an idea.  That was the case in a recent event in New York Last weekend, I attended… Read more

Choosing Equipment for Oral History Projects The second webinar in the “Effective Oral History” series will be held this Thursday at 3 p.m. They will discuss factors to consider when deciding whether to use audio or video equipment when recording oral history interviews. Budget, staff, storage capacity, and project goals all affect equipment choices. Sponsored… Read more

The NAACP Oral History Project Exhibit, a collaboration of the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College, the NAACP – Berkshire Branch, and the Berkshire Museum, opened on Feb. 1, 2019 and closed on May 5. Now, thanks to Sam Redman, professor of oral history at the University of Massachusetts, two graduate students… Read more

As you know, we are working with the University of Massachusetts Libraries Special Collections to archive and make available the oral history project interviews that we do in our region.  The   Monterey Library was one of the first organizations the Oral History Center worked with, helping Wendy Germain, project coordinator, by sponsoring an intern… Read more

  Next July (2020), Ann Gallo of UBU Theater (https://ubutheater.org/about),  based in Tyringham, Mass., will direct Women of Tyringham, a play based on 32 oral history interviews that she conducted.  Ann lives in Tyringham, and has directed community based theater in her town. But this is her first play based on oral history, and so… Read more

  When we archive our oral history interviews and related materials we are doing one of the most important things we do. We have been working with the University of Massachusetts Special Collections, and they are putting our interviews in their archive, which is available online.   We know they will be cared for, updated, and… Read more

Amy Starecheski sent examples of various media her graduating students at Columbia University’s Oral History MA program used to tell stories.  Click INTERVIEWS for the entire post. Click links for the individual projects. INTER\VIEWS was an inter\active multimedia pop-up oral history exhibit showcasing inter\disciplinary work created by students in the Columbia University Oral History Master… Read more

Is there a collection management system, or software, best suited for organizing oral history collection information?  We are working on a pilot in which we will help a few partner organizations do inventories of their oral history collections.  But first, a bit of research to find the best way to organize the information they collect…. Read more

  Use those audio interviews: make focused, compelling stories. In a two-part workshop LEARN TO MAKE A PODCAST Instructor:  Experienced radio journalist and podcaster,  Reinout Van Wagtendonk Where:  BCC Main Campus, room TBA When:  Two-part workshop, June 6 and 13, 10:30-12oo. (Part two will be hands on. You will bring your audio recording.) (Register soon;… Read more