oral history

American  

noun

1. information of historical or sociological importance obtained usually by tape-recorded interviews with persons whose experiences and memories are representative or whose lives have been of special significance.

2. a book, article, recording, or transcription of such information.

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oral history British  

noun

1. the memories of living people about events or social conditions which they experienced in their earlier lives taped and preserved as historical evidence

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Other Word Forms

• oral historian noun

Etymology

Origin of oral history

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

In an interview with the Smithsonian oral history project, she talked about the challenge of being a woman in a union dominated by Chavez and other men.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

The oral history includes McCartney’s defense of that track: “The truth is, it was catchy.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Vaginal Davis on her L.A. beginnings and having fun while making an impact On making music for ‘the freaks’ with the Egyptian Lover Unpacking the oral history of jerkin’ and its lasting impact beyond L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

“I just believe in service,” she said in an oral history interview with the Eastern Kentucky University Research Center for Special Collections & Archives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Between the project with my friends, the oral history assignment, and my regular work, I’m going to be extremely busy for the next few months.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh