Engaging with communities through oral history interviews enables librarian archivists to work towards amplifying voices traditionally excluded from historical records. Marginalized groups such as people of color, women, immigrants, differently abled, and LGBTQ represent a significant percentage of the population that has been severely underrepresented in archives.
This presentation covers the steps recommended to conduct oral histories and how to establish trust with community members. The mutual benefits and challenges of collaborative projects such as oral histories, committees, and donations will be discussed. Documenting cultural heritage and unique experiences with diverse communities on their terms provides a more inclusive archival record and creates opportunities to help empower these communities.
