Sharon Zane is a newly-retired independent oral historian, in practice for 35 years.

Oral histories completed include projects for large corporations, as well as non-profit organizations such as Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, Children’s Television Workshop, and for individual memoirs of prominent individuals.

She worked closely with Columbia University’s Oral History Research Office on histories of the Carnegie Corporation and the Ed Koch Administration.

In addition to authoring publications based her oral history work, she served on the boards of the Oral History Association for the Mid-Atlantic Region, and Doing Art Together. She is an enthusiastic, long-time family genealogist.

“Mining the Past to Illuminate the Present: How Oral History Can Work for You!” (Sun-121), 3:00-4:15 P.M.

I will include two case studies, drawn from my own genealogical research, that demonstrate how information, casual remarks and other clues gathered in oral history interviews can lead to exciting, life-changing discoveries.

Included in the power point presentation will be snippets from oral history texts, diagrams, and photographs to illustrate my main theme — that oral history is a powerful tool for the genealogist.

I will talk in some detail about the elements that constitute good oral history technique — what to do and what not do, the type of recording equipment available, etc. – and distribute handouts delineating good oral history practice, interviewing tips and techniques, how to handle sound equipment, and I will provide a bibliography of pertinent resources. And, of course, I will take and answer questions.

Topics: Oral History: Technique and Examples of Discoveries Using Interviews