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2009 Wisconsin Oral History Day
Posted 4/15/2009
MADISON, Wis. –The 2009 Wisconsin Oral History Day (WOHD) will be held on April 26 & 27 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. For more details, including a full list of sponsors, the registration form and cost, go to http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/oralhist/. This is the second of a three-year plan to hold an annual event highlighting oral history at the campus and community levels.
When asked why put forth this type of event, WOHD’s convener, Troy Reeves, who serves as the head of UW—Madison Oral History Program, said “I'm trying to publicize the state’s fine oral history work.” “I designed oral history day,” Reeves continued, “to bring together interested folks to a single location to learn the steps to conduct quality oral histories, to discuss extent projects, to network regarding future collaboration, and to strengthen the guild of current and future oral historians.”
The success of last year’s event led Reeves and other interested groups, such as the Chippewa Valley Museum & the UW—Eau Claire Department of History, to add an opening session, held the evening before the WOHD’s main activities. The Sunday night opening session (6-8 pm) will be held at the CVM with a presentation by Dr. Jim Leary, entitled "Oral History and Public Folklore: Working with Joua Bee Xiong.” The opening session, sponsored in part by the Wisconsin Humanities Council, will include appetizers, desserts, and beverages.
Most of Monday’s morning activities will focus on oral history project planning, beginning with a mini-workshop, led by Reeves, and finishing with a presentation on community planning in diverse settings, given by Baylor (Texas) University Oral History Program Director Stephen Sloan. (The UW—Madison Libraries & Archives will sponsor Sloan’s and Reeves’ presentations.) In between those events, students from UW—Eau Claire students will offer a case study of project planning as they discuss a current oral history project with the UW—Eau Claire Women’s Studies Program.
Directed by Dr. Katherine Rhoades, Interim Coordinator, Women’s Studies Program, UW-Eau Claire, in collaboration with Public History Program Professor Dr. John Mann and Tiffany Gerber, a public history graduate student, this project planning panel should provide a unique, interesting perspective for the morning’s activities. As Laura Jones, one of the students on the panel, notes, "The collection of women's oral history has proven to be an exciting and challenging experience."
Monday’s keynote will be offered in the afternoon by independent oral historian/author Barb Sommer. Sommer, who resides in St. Paul, will present, “The Story Behind the Manual: The Creation of The American Indian Oral History Manual: Making Many Voices Heard. As with Leary’s talk, the Wisconsin Humanities Council sponsored Sommer’s presentation.
Also, on Monday there will be sessions with students, teachers, and professors, including Dr. Charles “Chuck” Lee, UW—LaCrosse Oral History Program Director, whose program also has provided generous financial support. Lunch and morning and afternoon snacks/drinks will be provided for registered attendees. The Day will end with a brief wrap-up, led by Reeves and Sloan, as they and the attendees review the day’s highlights. All of Monday’s events will be held on UW—Eau Claire’s campus, primarily due to the support the university’s history department.
For more details, including a full list of sponsors, the registration form and cost, go to http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/oralhist/ or contact WOHD’s program chair, Troy Reeves, at 608-890-1899 or treeves@library.wisc.edu. Or, Kate Lang, langkh@uwec.edu or 715-836-5501