There are limited spots remaining for the Traverse City and Marquette workshop locations, 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:

Develop a plan for launching and managing an oral history project.
Select appropriate equipment and documentation practices for conducting oral history interviews.
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.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Traverse Area District Library, register here: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/eventRegistration.jsp?event=11764
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Peter White Public Library, register here: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=11769

Instructors:

Brittany Bayless-Fremion, Central Michigan University
Jim Cameron, President, Michigan Oral History Association
Matt Jones, Eastern Michigan University
Zach Lanciani, Northern Michigan University
Dr. Jennifer Vanette, Castle Museum
Billy Wall-Winkel, Detroit Historical Museum

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

Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48915
GalloB@michigan.gov | mi.gov/LMdigitization | 517-335-1402

she/her/hers

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