Doing Oral History

Adina Back

The following essays offer students and teachers basic tools and methods for conducting, interpreting, and using oral history narratives. First, the essay gives a brief historical overview to the World War II Farm Labor Project and the McCarthy Era Vanguard closing episode, and a discussion of the historical themes that are central to these two stories. Drawing on examples from the Farm Labor Project and Vanguard interviews, the essay then discusses oral history theory, methodology and utility.