Oral History as a Scientific Method
Marjan Mirghaffari
Translated by Abbass Haji Hashemi
2016-2-14
Dr. Ali Tatari, director of archive center of the Iranian parliament and a member of the Oral History Association of Iran, said plans are under way to expand the realm of oral history activities in state and private organs in the country.
The following is an excerpt of his interview on the sidelines of a specialized oral history seminar entitled as Oral History of Iran's Islamic Revolution (1962-1979). Tatari served as one of the organizers of the event.
-Please tell us about the background of the seminar as it is organized by the Oral History Association of Iran.
This was the 10th edition of the conference and it is nearly a decade that it is being mounted. Oral history is a scientific method for production and collection of documents in the world and is a fully endorsed discipline all around the globe. Most of the world's renowned universities have invested huge amounts on oral history programs for students in all graduate and post-graduate levels.
Despite the latent recognition of the field in Iran, a number of important breakthroughs have been achieved over the course of the past 10 years. This year, the conference brings together nearly 300 articles by oral history researchers and the first edition of Oral History Journal has been published by the Archives Center of National Library and the Oral History Association of Iran.
-What is the main theme of the conference?
The conference is primarily aimed at enhancing research on oral history and the number of regions and areas where it is practiced across the country. Strengthening oral history research is the primal goal of the conference. Every year a research center sponsors the conference. This year it was the Institute for Contemporary History of Iran. Other foundations like the Foundation of Martyrs Affairs, Isfahan University, and the Parliamentary Library, Museum and Archives sponsored the previous editions of the conference.
-Have such events been able to instill the status of oral history research in academic centers in Iran?
Yes, certainly. In the past few years, we were able to raise awareness about oral history as an acceptable method for collection of documents and data in humanities in fields like economics, culture and politics. Furthermore, a number of masters' and PhD theses based on oral history data collection methods have been provided in the years. As I told you, we have put together a specialized oral history journal whose first issue is about to be released. Besides, references to oral history interviews were not previously seen as veritable scientific accounts but today they are endorsed in scientific arenas.
Number of Visits: 5625
The latest
- Theory Two: The Borderline Legitimacy Crisis of Oral History in the Academic System
- 100 Questions/ 31
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 31
- 100 Questions/ 30
- The Story of a Street Classroom
- Validation: Challenges and Necessities
- Memories of Mr. Jalal Setareh
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 30
Most visited
- Theory One: “The Structural Duality of Opportunity–Threat in the Government’s Entry into Oral History”
- The 373rd Night of Memories – Part 7
- 100 Questions/ 29
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 30
- Memories of Mr. Jalal Setareh
- Validation: Challenges and Necessities
- The Story of a Street Classroom
- 100 Questions/ 30
100 Questions/27
What is the place of research ethics in compiling oral history?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
Photo Album from The Doctor of fly
The Doctor of fly, authored by Fatemeh Dehghan Niri, presents the memoirs of Dr. Mohammad-Taqi Khorsandi Ashtiani, Professor Emeritus and a subspecialist in Otolaryngology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Compiled within the framework of oral history, the work recounts different stages of his life—from childhood and years of ...The Beating Pulse of a Nation at the Moment of Nowruz
Every year, in the days and nights leading up to Nowruz, Shohada Square had a special charm. A few days before the New Year, the shops would fill with customers, and street vendors would take over the sidewalks. You could find everything in their stalls (from items for the Haft Sin table, candles, goldfish, and spring flowers to clothes, bags, and shoes).The Editor's Missing Place on the “Deck”
The book From Deck to Heaven offers a relatively fresh approach to examining the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Navy (AJA) during the eight years of the Sacred Defense, published under the “Oral History of the Islamic Revolution” series. To compile this book, the esteemed author has utilized documentary research (referring to relevant archival centers and selecting documents) and field research ...
