WHY ORAL HISTORY? 

Engaging with the past to inform the present:The Muslim community of London

 12.30 - 5.30pm - Saturday 1st December 2012

 Croydon Mosque & Islamic Centre

525 London Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 6AR

What is oral history?

… Oral history might be defined as a recorded interview made with someone recalling their life story.

Now an accepted part of how information is collected about the recent past

But also now available as archive material of memories that are no longer available amongst the living E.g. The Edwardians Project Or the Cambridge archive of ‘British’ India

NA Archiving guide for mosques – a problem?

“Individual mosque congregations vary greatly in terms of their longevity and resources. Very few mosques in the UK can trace their origins to before the Second World War. Few have established archives and in many cases have yet to establish a record-keeping tradition of their own. However, the general principles and practical issues that need to be considered are clear.” Norman James and Philip Gale of the National Archives

And…

“….Furthermore, many Muslim worshipping communities will have a very strong oral tradition and less emphasis on formal written procedures.”

All great advice… but also note: this is why oral history is important…

Why advice is a problem 1?

Some archivists privilege the written record or paper document over oral history The way they were trained or not trained The cultures they are located in (literate rather

than oral) A need to understand better what oral history

(and oral tradition is) is and what it can offer Note: as well as history oral historians are

interested in the richness of the stories we tell And the way we remember

Why advice is a problem 2?

The written record or paper document: May not contain key information, especially in cultures with

a strong oral tradition This is especially the case in migrant based communities

Privileging the written over the spoken is not a good way of representing what might be important to individuals and communities

Need to include oral history in the guidelines because: Elder memories are both important to communities and

useful sources of information These can not only supplement the written record, but open

up new areas of interest Provide a way of understanding the interconnections

between different areas of life, e.g. religion and family

What can oral history offer?

The addition of voices to the historical record Voices that otherwise would not be heard Voices speaking about events, issues, and beliefs

that are not part of the documentary paper record In addition to supplementing existing

materials: Explore new areas of life Record the memory and stories of community

members Record the voice Engage communities in making their own archives

What already exists?

Examples of archives . Local

Bradford Recording Heritage Recording Unit est. c. 1984

East Midlands Oral History Archive Huddersfield Asian Voices Asian Youth Alliance

National British Library Sound Archive Oral History Collection http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/sound/ohist

/oralhistory.html Many thousands of recordings: with famous and non-

famous

Example

Shezad Hussain). Born 23.5.52 Multan

The interview is in total 9 hours long over several sessions

It includes how she became an advisor to Marks and Spencer on Indian food and her subsequent involvement wit the company helping produce chicken tikka massala in 1986-87

Here she talks about her mother and coming to England

British Library Sound Archive, F8770-F8774 2000

Food: From Source to Salespoint   Hussain, Shezad, 1952-, interviewer Polly Russell

What does this extract tell us?

The richness of oral history The importance of memory The struggles that new arrivals felt The resources and ideas that migrants

have brought to Britain The importance of particular narratives

What could you do?

Organise your own interview project Recruit interviewers/interviewees/organisers

(archivists/other support) Commission training Work out what areas you want to ask about

Experience of migration and community Religion Politics Home life Working life Culture (music etc)

Then work out the questions Funding?

What support exists?

On-line materials Oral History Society http://www.oralhistory.or

g.uk/ For community groups

Training – Tailored and Generic

Regional Networkers Conferences and workshops

For Universities Training Support Network Conferences and workshops

(OHS/IHR)

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/heahistory/publications/focusonresearch/oralhistory/