Oral history is a method of gathering and preserving historical information through recorded interviews with participants in past events and ways of life. It is both the oldest type of historical inquiry, predating the written word, and one of the most modern, initiated with tape recorders in the 1940s.
The Oral History Association, established in 1966, seeks to bring together all persons interested in oral history as a way of collecting human memories. With an international membership, the OHA serves a broad and diverse audience. Local historians, librarians and archivists, students, journalists, teachers, and academic scholars from many fields have found that the OHA provides both professional guidance and collegial environment for sharing information.
In addition to fostering communication among its members, the OHA encourages standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, dissemination and uses of oral testimony. To guide and advise those concerned with oral documentation, the OHA has established a set of goals, guidelines, and evaluation standards for oral history interviews.
The association also recognizes outstanding achievement in oral history through an awards program. Awards are given in the categories of publications, nonprint media productions, teaching , and oral history projects.
Provenance:
S. George Ellsworth was chairman of Local Arrangements in preparations for the Oral History Workshop held at Jackson Lake Lodge, Morgan, Wyoming on Sept. 12-15, 1974. The Oral History Association Records consist of 3 boxes of Records documenting his service as chairperson. There is also 1 box of local oral history interviews on cassette tapes from George’s research. The Oral History Association Records were donated by George and Maria Ellsworth and their son, Mark. These Oral History Association materials are part of the S. George Ellsworth Collection that was donated to USU Special Collections in several installments between 1996 and 2001.
Scope and Content:
Box 1 contains forms, mostly for registration. Also in box 1 are address lists, miscellaneous documents and newsletters 1973-74. Box 2 contains correspondence 1972-1974 relating to planning and scheduling for the 1974 workshop. Box 3 holds financial records having to do with the planning of the workshop. Box 4 contains taped interviews of local history.
Inventory:
Box 1. 1974 Workshop and Colloquium
Fd 1 Addresses and Forms
Fd 2 1974 Local Arrangements
Fd 3 Notes from Mid-Winter Council Meeting at New Orleans 24-26 January 1974
Fd 4 Miscellaneous Notes on Local Arrangements
Fd 5 Registration Forms: Adams-Burns
Fd 6 Registration Forms: Calciano-Crow
Fd 7 Registration Forms: Damaty-Estes
Fd 8 Registration Forms: Fay-Gardner
Fd 9 Registration Forms: Glass-Humphreys
Fd 10 Registration Forms: Jarrell-Lewis
Fd 11 Registration Forms: McComb-Mulkins
Fd 12 Registration Forms: Naske-Proctor
Fd 13 Registration Forms: Reno-Swan
Fd 14 Registration Forms: Tanzek-Zars
Fd 15 Documents Relating to Hotel Accommodations
Fd 16 Participant’s Package
Fd 17 Miscellaneous Documents
Fd 18 Miscellaneous Documents
Fd 19 Miscellaneous Documents
Fd 20 Newsletters: 1973-1974
Box 2. 1974 Workshop and Colloquium Correspondence
Fd 1 1972
Fd 2 1973
Fd 3 January 1974
Fd 4 February 1974
Fd 5 March 1974
Fd 6 April 1974
Fd 7 May-August 1974
Fd 8 September-November 1974
Fd 9 1975
Fd 10 Requests for Information 1974
Fd 11 Confirming Reservations June-July 1974
Fd 12 Confirming Reservations 8-25 August 1974
Fd 13 Confirming Reservations 28, 30 August 1974
Fd 14 Confirming Reservations 29 August, 1974
Fd 15 Confirming Reservations 3-4 September 1974
Fd 16 Confirming Reservations 5-27 September 1974
Box 3. 1974 Workshop and Colloquium
Fd 1 Cancellations
Fd 2 Cancellations
Fd 3 Cancellations
Fd 4 Canceled Checks and Bank Account
Fd 5 Individual Room Bills
Fd 6 Account Sheets–Finances Associated with Local Arrangements
Fd 7 Financial Records
Fd 8 Financial Records
Fd 9 Payments for Conference
Fd 10 Individual Account Statements: Adams-Burk
Fd 11 Individual Account Statements: Calciano-Etulain
Fd 12 Individual Account Statements: Fahrney-Humphreys
Fd 13 Individual Account Statements: Jarrell-Mullins
Fd 14 Individual Account Statements: Naske-Ross
Fd 15 Individual Account Statements: Safier-Zars
Fd 16 Oral History Tape Summary Sheet: Charlotte Rowberry Ellsworth, 1977
Box 4. Taped Interviews
Tape 1 Mildred Olmstead 1 of 2 2-2-91
Tape 2 Mildred Olmstead 2 of 2 2-2-91
Tape 3 Mildred Yonkers 1 of 2 Logan 2-5-91
Tape 4 Mildred Yonkers 2 of 2 2-5-91
Tape 5 Dora Hodges 1 of 2 Lewiston 2-8-91
Tape 6 Dora Hodges 2 of 2 Lewiston 2-8-91
Tape 7 Beth Nelson 1 of 2 Logan, UT 2-13-91
Tape 8 Beth Nelson 2 of 2 Logan, UT 2-13-91
Tape 9 Ileen Olsen 1 of 2 College Ward 2-14-91
Tape 10 Ileen Olsen 2 of 2 College Ward 2-14-91
Tape 11 Joan Richardson 1 of 2 Wellsville 2-15-91
Tape 12 Joan Richardson 2 of 2 Wellsville 2-15-91
Tape 13 Watterson Logan 2-19-91
Tape 14 Ivy Hansen
Tape 15 Ida Schaub 1 of 2
Tape 16 Ida Schaub 2 of 2
Tape 17 Taped interview with Vosco Call Sr., director and founder of Old Lyric Rep.
Tape 18 Sadie Sorenson 1-91
Tape 19 Sadie Sorenson 2-91
Tape 20 Sp871 Mendon Various, by Patrick Easterling
A: 1st Artice Bird #60-320
B: Sad times at Mendon Old Folks Home and Mrs. Muir, who told me about Artice Bird
Tape 21 Interview - Carol and Delmar Birkenfeld. 13 June 1988
Genre - Oral Narrative Taped
Title - Logging Experiences of a Logger and his wife
Collector - Geneve C. Hill
Tape 22Rhett S. James interview of Thelma Gubler James. Orem, UT. 30 April 1988. Occupational folklore: on becoming a public school teacher
Tape 23
A: Siraj Ahmed 7/26/89, 7/30/89
B: Siraj Ahmed 7/30/89
Tape 24 Oral History of Rosabell Ames; Submitted by Donna Barton Alta, UT 84001
Tape 25
A: Informant: Glauser, Collector: Pat Karren
B: Informant: Hodges, Collector: Pat Karren
Tape 26 Shannon Hailstone:
1. The Horsey and the flea
2. The Moon and the Privy
3. Missionary Rap
4. Maria
5. Alles Fahrt Schii
6. Champ Elysees
Edith Bowen Tapes. Folklore Short Course. Spring 1983
Tape 83.1.1
Side A: Annica Berkey interviewing Stephanie Perry. 28 March 1983
Side B: Stephanie Perry interviewing Annica Berkey
Tape 83.1.2
A: Diem Ton interviewing Heidi Hart. 28 March 1983
B: Heidi Hart interviewing Megan Wonlass
Tape 83.1.3
A: Stacie Smith interviewing Stacy Hansen. 28 March 1983
B: Stacy Hansen interviewing Stacie Smith
Tape 83.1.4
A: Kevin Hill interviewing Brian Larson. 28 March 1983
B: Brian Larsen interviewing Kevin Hall
Tape 83.1.5
A: Aaron Gillies interviewing Ryan Foxley; Ryan Foxley interv. Paul Lawson
B: Paul Lawson interviewing Aaron Gillies; Paul Lawson interv. Ryan Foxley
Tape 83.2 Mories and ledgenets from people. 6 April 1983
Tape 83.2.1 Annica Berkey interviewing Kathy Doll and Pam Boyer. April 1983
Tape 83.2.2 Brian Larsen interviewing Martanna and John Larsen. 3 April 1983
Tape 83.2.3
A: Aaron Gillies interviewing Erma Madsen Osborn
B: Cline Gillies. 3 April 1983 Easter
Tape 83.2.4 Megan Wanlass interviewing father, mother, friends and guest
Tape 83.2.6 Stacy Smith interviewing Cecelia and Arthur Smith
Tape 83.3.3 Gordon Andrus, Cathy and Tom
