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

Oral history suggests that at one time there were so many goats, Snoqualmie and Skykomish people would collect their fur from plants and shrubs that had brushed off in the warm months.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

Oral history: Twenty years ago, the Boston Red Sox created “the most fun clubhouse in baseball.”

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2023

Oral history interviews conducted by Christine Valenciana, an associate professor at Cal State Fullerton, illuminated the personal stories of those who were expelled from the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2022

Oral history among the Ho-Chunk Nation says that they have lived in the Great Lakes region for thousands of years.

From Washington Times • Sep. 24, 2022

Oral history has proven to be one of the most interesting and revealing sources when conducting research on this topic.

From Time • Dec. 1, 2015