PDF Files

Pre-Interview Worksheet

The Riverside Oral History Center will act as multi-media depository of the history of Milwaukee’s Riverside community. By creating a place to store our history, future generations can learn from the experiences of our community to build on the successes and learn from the mistakes we have made over the years.

The Riverside Oral History Center will consist of a physical depository of interviews, both audio and video, online and at the Riverside High School Library. The Center will also create templates and provide technical materials for participants.

What is Oral History?

Oral history can be defined as the recording, preservation and interpretation of historical information, based on the personal experiences and opinions of the speaker.

It often takes the form of eye-witness evidence about past events, but can include folklore, myths, songs and stories passed down over the years by word of mouth. While it is an invaluable way of preserving the knowledge and understanding of older people, it can also involve interviewing younger generations. More recently, the use of video recording techniques has expanded the realm of oral history beyond verbal forms of communication and into the realm of gesture.

Media