Integrating Oral Sources into the Historical Record: The Role of Living Memory and Social History
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53573/rhimrj.2024.v11n1.026Keywords:
Oral history, living memory, social history, collective memory, narrative, historical recordAbstract
This study investigates the significant role oral sources play in shaping historical narratives, particularly by capturing the voices and experiences of individuals and communities often absent from official documentation. Oral histories serve as vital tools for preserving living memory, offering firsthand accounts that reveal the texture of daily life, emotional landscapes, and social practices passed down through generations. In doing so, they provide an entry point into the lives of ordinary people—voices that traditional archives frequently overlook or suppress. By critically examining methodological frameworks, ethical considerations, and representative case studies, this paper argues for the inclusion of oral testimonies as an essential component of historical research. Oral sources not only enrich the field of social history but also challenge dominant narratives by centering perspectives from the margins. Their integration fosters a more comprehensive, empathetic, and pluralistic view of the past, revealing histories rooted in memory, identity, and lived experience.
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