The Layers of Oral Histories at Memorial Museums

Abstract

Oral histories told and recorded at historic sites of profound suffering are not just depressing, horror stories. They reveal nuanced historical meanings, insights about human nature, and visions of human potential for the present and future. The autoethnographic account of the author’s ongoing pilgrimage to memorials and museums, and the oral histories and witness testimonies collected on this voyage served as data sources for constructing a framework and methodology for working with the layers of oral history. The first layer of oral histories refers to the narratives given by the survivor-witnesses who participated in the historic event. The second layer is the presentation of exhibits: the photographs, artifacts, and vestiges of the historical event, as well as the interpretive explanations for the exhibits. In the third layer, museum visitors themselves become producers of oral history when they tell others about their visit. The discussion of the values, concerns, and risks of working with the layers of oral histories at memorial museums serve as guidelines for researchers, educators, and students who are engaged in oral history projects from various disciplinary perspectives in the social sciences and the humanities.