Memory and Remembering in Oral History

Abstract

Memory is not a passive depository of facts, but an active process of creation of meanings. This article focuses on the importance of memory and remembering in oral history. The literature about memory ranges across several academic disciplines and is daunting in size and scope. This article also considers approaches to memory and remembering, which can enhance oral historians' understanding of the interview and its interpretation. It begins by charting the history of oral historians' approaches to memory and then distills current research about memory and remembering—from cultural studies, and narrative theory. It explores the idea of memory research by arguing that remembering is not like playing back a tape or looking at a picture; more like telling a story. The consistency and accuracy of memories is therefore an achievement, not a mechanical production. It also explains ideas of narrative theory, memory paradox and social relationships against the backdrop of oral history.

Self-interpreted narrative capture: A research project to examine life courses of Amerasians in Vietnam and the United States

“…Its fundamental principle, the collection of self-interpreted narratives, is based on the recognition that storytelling is an important form of human communication used by individuals to make sense of their own and their community’s experiences (Brown, 2006; Koenig Kellas and Trees, 2006) as well as being a useful method for creating individual and collective memories. (Thomson, 2011) Through the narratives recounted in storytelling, people make sense of their personal experiences (Fivush et al, 2011). Using SenseMaker, participants share a story in response to their choice of open-ended prompting questions and this story generates qualitative data in the form of brief narratives collected as audio or text files.…”

Positive Women: Emotion, Memory, and the Power of Narrative in Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases, 1991-2020

“…Thomson writes, "Mental good health requires us to forget much more than we remember." 81 Denison called the members of WAN "wonderful," "amazing," and "so excited" at the prospect of a newsletter they could pass along to their female patients. 82 In Denison's memories, the network of activists in the Bay Area in the 1990s built supportive and collaborative relationships across organizations and strategic priorities.…”

“My God! Why Was I Born?”

“…80 Léon's account, like other such narratives, interwove memories with retrospective interpretation of those memories, as he sought to make sense of his life and give it coherence. 81 Rather than being confined to his childhood, then, the narrative linked the events of his childhood to his reunion with his maternal family.…”