11:00 am - Philipstown Oral History Workshop

REGISTER  HERE to join the Zoom event.

Join Lynda Ann Ewen, for a Zoom workshop on how to interview to preserve life stories. The discussion will focus on interview guidelines, and a discussion of the basic mechanics of recording and transcription, with plenty of time for questions and answers.

This workshop will be limited to ten participants and will focus on the life histories of Philipstown’s older residents. It will be open to seniors wishing to preserve their life stories and to those who wish to do an oral history of their older family or friends in Philipstown.

Interviewing for oral history is a specific skill. Although it might seem intuitive (“just sit them down and get them to start talking”), a serious and productive interview is guided by a specific protocol. These guidelines have been established by the Oral History Association of America. (oralhistory.org)

American history has been deeply enriched by programs that have included the WPA initiative to interview the direct descendants of slaves, Studs Terkel’s work to interview veterans of World War II, and university programs that have focused on specific groups of interest. Beyond that, of course, are the countless interviews done by individuals and community organizations. Interviews give voice to history as seen through specific experiences.

Lynda Ann Ewen, Ph.D. is a retired professor of sociology in the areas of community organization and societal development. She was the director of the Oral History of Appalachia Program at Marshall University. She has taught numerous classes and workshops on oral history and trained community groups.

This workshop is sponsored by Philipstown Aging at Home (PAAH) which is an organization dedicated to empowering seniors to enjoy fulfilling and safe lives at home in the community they love. Visit their website at paah.net.