Who we are

‌The Oral History Collective is based at Newcastle with members working across the world. We are practitioners, teachers and researchers in both university and community based settings. Internationally recognised oral historians, who have specialist interests in social and historical justice, labour, rural, environmental, and women’s history as well as the history of medicine. 

The Collective provides a forum for knowledge exchange on an equitable basis. We explore the dynamics of memory and historical narrative through theory and practice and strive to include those voices too often marginalised in representations of the past.

Collaborative Community Partnerships are key to our approach in our productions of globally significant research that attends to regional and civic responsibilities.

Oral History in the North East

T‌he North East of England and Newcastle University have long been important centres for oral history activity. In academia, oral historians research and teach across disciplinary boundaries from the creative arts to medicine; in the community cultural sector, oral historians work in community education, museums, archives and a diverse range of community organisations. Recognising the wealth of experience in and around Newcastle, the Oral History Unit & Collective was launched in January 2018.

Our aims

The Oral History Collective is developing the next generation of oral historians, with early-career researchers, including doctoral students, involved in the design of ground-breaking projects. Using oral history as both a method and a source in public history, we seek to conduct and inform multi-disciplinary research and to respond to societal and global challenges. Our projects prioritise public history and social justice. This includes helping to shape policies on poverty, ageing, transport, crime and international development. You can read more about our key research themes here.

We have a monthly reading group and occasional public lectures and seminars. We no longer offer a free advice service although we are interested in collaborative ventures that can support our aims and activities. For more information you can contact us at oralhistory@ncl.ac.uk