Today is the
last day to register for the upcoming Preserving Michigan Voices: An Oral History Workshop in Traverse City on August 5, 2026
, so register today for one
of the full day workshop opportunities around the state presented by the Library of Michigan and
Michigan Oral History Association! We encourage library staff, local history practitioners, archivists, museum professionals, and community partners to attend.
Preserving Michigan Voices: An Oral History Workshop
Interested in documenting and preserving community stories? This workshop will provide participants with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to plan and conduct a successful oral history project.
Whether you are representing a library, historical society, museum, archive, community organization, or simply have an interest in collecting personal narratives, this workshop will guide you through the entire oral history process.
Participants will explore the foundational steps of developing an oral history project, including defining goals, identifying interviewees, and creating a project plan. The workshop will
introduce affordable and effective recording equipment and discuss best practices for capturing high-quality audio and video interviews. Attendees will review essential forms and documentation, including consent and release forms, and learn how to develop
thoughtful interview questions that encourage meaningful storytelling.
The session will also address legal and ethical considerations related to oral history projects, including copyright, privacy, permissions, and the responsibilities of interviewers
and organizations. Finally, participants will learn what happens after the interview, including file management, preservation, transcription, metadata creation, access considerations, and sharing oral histories with the public.
Participants will learn to:
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Develop a plan for launching and managing an oral history project.
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Select appropriate equipment and documentation practices for conducting oral history interviews.
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Apply legal, ethical, and preservation best practices to ensure long-term access to oral history collections.
Registration Details:
Each in-person workshop runs from
10:00 - 4:00 pm, with lunch provided. All workshop participants receive a one-year individual membership to MOHA, which includes MOHA's Guide to Oral History Booklet and quarterly newsletters. Space is limited and there is a $35.00 fee to attend, payment
for workshops is due one week before event date.
This program is made possible by the Library of Michigan and supported in part
by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Biz Gallo
Statewide Digitization Initiatives Coordinator
she/her/hers
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