HIST 3909B: Topic in Public History – “Oral History”

Dr. Guadalupe Escalante Rengifo

Winter 2027

What is oral history, and what makes it unique? In this fully asynchronous course, students explore theory, ethics, and practice of oral history. The course begins by examining foundational approaches to oral history and its power to democratize history and amplifying underrepresented voices, as well as exploring key debates surrounding memory, narrative, the labor of remembering, and co-production of knowledge. Next, learners will familiarize themselves with essential legal and ethical frameworks before putting theory into practice through an original oral history project—gaining hands-on experience in project design, active listening, interview strategies, and digital recording. Moving from practice back to theory, the course covers transcription, critical interpretation, and project curation. Finally, the course focuses on archiving and preservation, equipping participants with real-world research skills.