Reading Response Six: Oral History in the Archives

“Oral History in the Archives:  Its Documentary Role in the Twenty-first Century” by Ellen D. Swain analyzes the array of challenges in the creation, preservation, accessibility, and future of oral histories in the archival community.  Historically, Swain notes, oral histories have not been seen as a large component of the archival mission; not until the latter half of the twentieth century did a move toward creation and storage these histories begin.  With oral histories, should archivists act as collection developers, as creators of material meant directly for archival storage?  Swain presents both sides of the argument, and then chooses to discuss the problems of copyright and access that plague the medium.  Furthermore, tape and video recordings will eventually degrade in the best of environments, so a move to digitize oral history original carriers is now underway.  Swain argues oral histories have their place in archives and will only continue to serve as key evidentiary pieces to the historical puzzle in the future.  Archives must face down any inherent issues, create, and preserve these histories for cultural memory.

The article specifies that oral historians need the skills of both historians and archivists to properly understand the methods in creating a worthwhile historical document.  Issues include the best methods of storing the original audio and visual interviews, choices in transcription, and the demand of digitization of each as obsolescence and degradation threaten old recorded oral histories.  The digital transference of recorded histories is essential in the sound and paper records.  Fully searchable digital transcripts are the dream of every archivist and researcher; unfortunately, resources to create such a scenario are slim.  Technological leaps in voice recognition may allow for digital sound files to auto-transcribe the oral histories.  One can expect other technologies to come forth to increase accessibility of these one-of-a-kind records.  Another debate is whether oral histories belong in an archive or library; this debate seems unnecessary, as the accessibility and preservation of these unique histories is most important, not where they are housed.  One would hope the debate would rage over the best manners to preserve history, not who is able to claim it.

Swain, Ellen D. “Oral History in the Archives: Its Documentary Role in the Twenty-first Century.” American Archivist, Volume 66, No. 1, Spring/Summer 2003, pp. 139-158.