We used oral histories extensively in the permanent exhibit at our museum and I would be happy to talk to you about it.  

The key to our interpretation is that we have several layers through out the exhibit. We used published oral histories, sometimes hiring actors to record them so they could be heard rather than read by the visitor; we also pulled quotes  from oral histories and other sources such as letters and used them in text panels.  In addition we made a series of short documentaries that focused on people talking about their communities or about particular issues.  

Many visitors don't read  labels so we tried to get information out in different formats.  We also had interviews done especially for the exhibit.  For example we did a section on African American miners in Washington and taped an interview with a community member who still remembered his family's expereince. The interpretation includes every day peoples voices as well as those of historians and other community members.  Historian Richard White, for example is on film as as is the writer Charles Johnson who lives in Seattle.  Writers, artists are other voices that need to be included in history exhibits. 

The layering of interpretation includes the artifacts selected to tell the different stories, the location of the stories within the gallery, the paint finishes used in the gallery, even the lighting and the graphic design itself.  



Maria Pascualy, Curator of Exibits
WA State History Museum
Tacoma, WA
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 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Brad Holderman <[log in to unmask]>
> Rachel,
> 
> ALthough, I am currently not in the field, I thought I
> would throw out my 2 cents.  During my days, I was
> interested in doing something similiar, not just oral
> history, but linguistics in general.  The funny thing
> is I hated the subject, simply due in part is was my
> most difficult aspect of anthropological study.
> 
> That being said, the dilemma was the balance of visual
> information dealing with an auditory subject.  I never
> got very far, my literature search became as
> frustrating as yours.
> 
> I realize that this doesn't help much, but since it
> was your first post, I thought I would reply to let
> you know it worked.
> 
> Cheers,
> Brad
> 
> --- Rachel Wormsbecher <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> 
> > Hello all.  This is my first Museum-L post, so I
> > hope it works...
> > 
> > Anyway, my name is Rachel and I'm a Museum Studies
> > student at the University 
> > of Toronto.  I'm currently working on a paper about
> > how oral history is used 
> > in Museum exhibitions and education, though I am
> > having difficulty finding 
> > very much literature on the subject.  If anyone
> > could recommend any 
> > publications, authors, or contacts, I would be very
> > appreciative.
> > 
> > Also, I would very much like to contact people who
> > are familiar with this 
> > subject, for a brief interview or conversation as my
> > research progresses.  
> > If anyone can offer any help in this matter, please
> > contact me.  My 
> > alternative email address is
> > [log in to unmask]
> > 
> > Thank you so much,
> > 
> > Sincerely, Rachel Wormsbecher.
> > 
> >
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