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Heritage » Oral histories
Oral histories
Oral history is 'the living memory of the past'. It is a record of information gathered in oral form, usually by electronic means, as a result of a planned interview.
The purpose of oral histories is to give a voice to those previously denied the chance to contribute to the recording of history. Through oral history we are able to document the lives of all kinds of people. Oral history can also create a spoken record where none exists and so provide us with completely new information about our past. It can add to already well documented areas and provide new perspectives, and can provide an opportunity for people and groups to record and interpret their own history.
The Southland Oral History Project
This project aims to record the stories of Southland and its people, and several special projects have been initiated, including the collection of topic-based interviews about the 1984 Southland floods, and an exhibition called About us : Voices of Southland, highlighting the unique voice of the region.
Rebeca Amundsen is the project co-ordinator for the Southland oral history project. She took up this position in 2008 when the Southland Rural Heritage Trust secured funding for the part-time position. Since 2010 the Library has maintained the position.
Rebecca has a degree in social anthropology, and a life-long interest in genealogy. Through her work in the project, she has become an experienced oral history interviewer. In 2006 Rebecca contributed to the book, Murihiku: the Southland story.
If you wish to acces the oral histories in the collection, please contact Rebecca in the first instance, by calling (03) 211 1444.
