Your grandfather served in World War II. Your neighbor was a Vietnam veteran. Your "old aunt" remembers using lye to make soap in the back yard. Have you ever asked them about their experiences? Have you ever wondered what they remember about these adventures? Here is your chance.

History is much more than remembering facts. History is all around us. It's in our families and in our communities. Doing an oral history project allows you to probe the memories of older people -- to ask them to tell you stories about their experiences. It allows you "to become a producer of historical knowledge, rather than a passive absorber of historical information."

Oral history records the feelings and impressions of a variety of people and gives a vivid picture of our past. It is a 'living history' of our family and our community.

Collecting and archiving oral histories is a wonderful way to build community, present proficiency skills in a real-life setting, preserve histories that may soon be gone forever and make these collections available to the entire community.

Educational Resources

Produced: 2002

Subject Area: Social Studies

Grade Level: 5-8

Resources: Speaking of History … Doing Oral History Projects Teacher Guide