Professional network
- The Oral History Association supports oral history education by providing information, resources and a professional network for educators to facilitate oral history education. Through meetings, publications and electronic forums, OHA connects educators to oral history practitioners working in a variety of public and private settings. Through OHA, educators can meet and collaborate with colleagues, and learn and enhance instruction on oral history. OHA also provides opportunities for students to engage and interact with oral history professionals.
Informational resources
- Secondary educators may find articles about instructional projects at the secondary level in OHA’s journal The Oral History Review and helpful items involving oral history and secondary student projects highlighted in the OHA newsletter and blog.
Annual meeting
- Every October, the OHA holds its annual meeting. The meeting provides opportunities for educators to learn what oral historians are currently doing and share their own projects. The annual meeting is where OHA focus groups and committees meet, collaborations are struck and ideas are borne.
Web Guides
- OHA provides a short list of web resources on engaging in high quality oral history. These resources include helpful to interview techniques, equipment usage, digitalizing oral history, permission forms and relevant discussions about planning projects and interpreting oral history interviews.
The Martha Ross Teaching Award
- Every two years, OHA awards a primary or secondary educator with an award to recognize exemplary instructional work in oral history. Award recipients receive a one-year free membership to OHA, an honorarium and free registration to the annual meeting. Awards ceremonies take place at the annual meetings, where recipients also have an opportunity to share their projects with a wide audience.
Oral History in the Digital Age
- OHA supports the “Oral History in the Digital Age” project (OHDA). The OHDA provides a wealth of free, web-based articles and resources for practicing 21st century oral history.
OHA’s “Principles and Best Practices
- OHA provides a clear, succinct guide for all individuals engaging in oral history. The “Principles and Best Practices” guide is an especially important resource for students and educators conducting oral history for the first time.
The Oral History Review
- OHA publishes this scholarly journal twice a year with free access to all OHA members. The Review is the foremost academic journal for oral history, with scholarly articles, book reviews, exhibition reviews and thoughtful commentary on all matters of interest in the oral history field. It also includes a special regular section focused on pedagogy. Current issues and archives dating back to 1973 are available free online.
Regional and International Organizations
- The OHA website provides a list of links to state, regional and international organizations for oral history. These organizations provide avenues for educators to engage with colleagues and learn about local/regional/international projects.
