Oral History Research Cluster

The principal aim of this cluster is to discuss oral history methodology and historiography across departments and faculties, but also within the city and the region. Many colleagues use oral history across the university and this cluster provides a vibrant network in which members can share ideas surrounding the theory and practice of oral history and qualitative research interviewing.

We are also interested in collaboration with colleagues from across all GW4 universities, given the substantial number of researchers using oral history across these institutions.

This cluster involves both established academic staff and early career researchers, including postgraduate research students, and provides a space for experienced and inexperienced oral history practitioners to advise one another and share best practice.

This cluster also engages with organisations from beyond the university, including the Bristol Record Office, to discuss the production and preservation of oral history material. We welcome any further collaborations too, so please get in touch if you would like to get involved or want to know more about the research cluster. 

Upcoming Events

• Sharing Best Practice Event: 13 December, 3-4:30pm, G50 (13 Woodland Road)

Past Events: 

• Seminar: 15 November 2017 (with the Italian Studies Department): Professor Anna Bull (Bath) - 'Oral history and modes of remembering in European war museums'

• Workshop: Oral History and Film, Wednesday 17 May, - We welcomed three speakers to discuss the interaction between film, screen studies and oral history in their research:

1. Dr Charlotte Crofts (UWE) –‘Curzon Memories Project, Oral History and Placemaking’
2. Dr Catherine O’Rawe (Bristol), 'Oral Histories of Postwar Italian Cinemagoing’
3. Prof. Sarah Street (Bristol), 'Oral Histories of Film Colour and the British Film Industry‘

• 5 May 2017, Reading Group: Interpreting the Oral History Interview - We discussed Alexander Freund's article “Confessing Animals”: Toward a Longue Durée History of the Oral History Interview’ Oral History Review, 41, 1 (2014), 1-26. Available via the university library. 

• 18 January 2017 - Ethical Oral History Research: Discussion Event, 3.00-4.30pm, First Floor Seminar Room, 7 Woodland Road.  Liam McKervey (Faculty Ethics Committee) on oral history ethical procedures and from several researchers for their perspectives on ethical oral history interviewing. 

• 9 December 2016 - Oral History Training Day, University of Bristol, for SWW (AHRC) DTP students. 

• 18 October 2016 - Seminar, co-hosted with the History Department, Rebecca Clifford (Swansea) - Child Holocaust Survivors and Testimony: Making Sense of Drastic Differences Between the Oral and Archival Record 3.15 PM - 5.00 PM Lecture Theatre 1, Woodland Road Arts Complex

• 29 June 2016, Archive Visit: Bristol Record Office

• 6 June 2016, Sharing Good Practice in Oral History: discussion session 

• 30 April 2016, Research Cluster Launch  

We welcome any suggestions for future events and collaborations.