What is oral history?
In Doing Oral History, the venerable Donald Ritchie explains that oral history collects memories and personal commentaries of historical significance through recorded interviews. An oral history interview generally consists of a well-prepared interviewer questioning an interviewee, or “narrator,” and recording the exchange in audio or video format. Recording for posterity is key in oral history work. Recordings are then generally transcribed, summarized, or indexed, and placed in a library or archive. Many researchers appreciate verbatim transcriptions for the ease of use they allow.
Oral history work, unlike some other types of interviewing scholars or researchers might do, is intended for use by the public. Narrators are almost always identified, unlike in some other disciplines where anonymity is preferred. Oral history is supposed to be about people WANTING to share their stories; feeling EMPOWERED, even, to share their stories on their terms.
For more on the field, we suggest Mr. Ritchie’s book, or the websites of the Oral History Association and/or Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region (ohmar.org).
The Paradoxical Paradise oral history interviews are conducted by, or under the supervision of, Monmouth University Specialist Professor of Public History Melissa Ziobro. Professor Ziobro has 15+ years’ experience doing oral history, and is the current president of Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
In setting up the oral history piece of Paradoxical Paradise, we worked closely with the Asbury Park Historical Society and Asbury Park Museum because we wanted to ensure that the community is helping to shape the work and feels shared ownership of the work. We’d like to thank all of our community partners, especially Kay Harris.
Interviews are still ongoing. Full transcripts of all interviews are being created/edited and will be posted eventually. In the meantime, we invite you to contact Professor Ziobro if you feel you need immediate access, or with any questions: mziobro@monmouth.edu
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Narrators (last updated June 2022):
Billy Terrell
Semaj Vanzant
Sylvia Sylvia
Kasey Sanders
Pedro Trivella
Daniel Harris
Dr. Pat Connolly
Douglas Eagles
Eileen Chapman
Tim Cabrey
Julie Andreola
Claude Taylor
Angela Ahbez-Anderson
Susan Skokos
Andy Skokos
Lorraine Stone
Susan Rosenberg
Kay Harris
Don Stine
Roy Riller
Arden Thorne
Student Interviewers (last updated June 2022):
Aaila Arif
Sarah Bilotta
Gillian Demetriou
Kelly Dender
Jenna DeNicolo
Noah Ferker
Angelica Juliani
Tiyana Randeniya
Vincent Sauchelli
Tennessee Tremain
Brooke Van de Sande