Help writing an oral history?

Question

I have to write an oral history for an Anthropology class. I'm writing about my grandmother, but when I write the paper do I call her grandma like I always do or should I put her first name instead? Any other tips or suggestions would be appreciated as well!

Answer 1

Call her "the silver maned love queen" --- though if she still walks among us, she may spit out her teeth & keel over laughing (that is if she get's it) -- you may want paramedics on standby.

Seriously, though, having written countless social histories -- the best reports of this nature are those that personalize it. Therefore, I think when you reference the early parts of her life, call her by her first name, when she gets married, call her Mrs. (whatever her last name was), and then once you begin to speak about her history when you actually became familiar with her (i.e. the era that began when you were born), then you call her Gramma. It keeps the story going, people are attentive, because they recognize change in roles, a shift in time, and then it validates you as a knowledgeable person to do the reporting, because you have a personal relationship with her. Good luck!

Answer 2

Oral history was the first type on the scene. Back in the days when humans were pre-literate, people would memorize lineages and tales of significant events. In the Iliad, for example, the epithets of certain characters ("Hector of the shining helm," "the white-armed Andromache") help both the teller and the hearers to keep the characters straight. In the various genealogies of the Old Testament in the Bible, similar "markers" were used, such as "So-and-so was a mighty man of valor" or "Such-and-such had no sons, only daughters." Written history originally was based on these oral traditions, and with the rise in the last several hundred years of such related fields as anthropology and archeology, historians became better able to sort out myth from fact. After all, the Trojan War was considered no more than an ancient legend until Heinrich Schliemann set out to discover the site of Troy--and did so. This opened the door to searching for supporting evidence to confirm or deny oral historical traditions. Remember, too, that the oral traditions of the same event will be seen through the eyes of the people handing down the traditions--the Scots have quite different points of view of, say, the battles of Bannockburn and Flodden than the English would.

Answer 3

You could "introduce" her at the beginning of your paper.

My Grandmother, "Mary Smith." Then, throughout the paper you can refer to her as Grandma or Mary.

Although, you may want to be consistent. But, the alternating between names offers some variety.

Writing down your Grandma's memories is a wonderful idea. You will have them forever. If you can tape her, that would be better. Then, when you're lonesome and need some comfort, switch on Grandma's voice!

Answer 4

I would say go with her name. I would use "Grandma" if you were writing a personal or creative writing piece. But since it's a history, go with her name.

Answer 5

If you write it down it ceases to be an oral history, surely?