What Is Oral History?

April 1, 2019
Grades 2-5 Because written history and artifacts don't always tell the whole story, this entry in the Let's Find Out! Social Studies Skills series (6 titles) introduces a growing research area: oral history. The thorough text explains why oral history is an especially important way to find out about slaves, those in poverty, minorities, women, and other groups of people whose histories were often not written down. Examples from the past, such as Native American stories recorded on wax cylinders in the 1890s, depict interesting ways oral histories were gathered and shared. The book also looks at modern oral histories and technology used to record them. Finally, the text gives interview strategies and incorporates a variety of photos, sidebars, and questions for added context. This resource will enliven what students consider historical research.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)