{"id":26178,"date":"2026-05-13T14:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/storytelling.concordia.ca\/?post_type=tribe_events&p=26178"},"modified":"2026-05-13T14:03:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:03:32","slug":"interpreting-oral-history-a-masterclass-with-alistair-thomson","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/storytelling.concordia.ca\/fr\/event\/interpreting-oral-history-a-masterclass-with-alistair-thomson\/","title":{"rendered":"Interpreting Oral History: A Masterclass with Alistair Thomson"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Alistair Thomson<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How do we make sense of the memories that we record as oral historians? How do we begin to transform stories into histories? In this workshop we\u2019ll consider a range of ways of approaching the interpretation of memories. We\u2019ll note the changing ways that researchers have used memory as a historical source. We\u2019ll consider the factors that shape memory stories. We\u2019ll try out narrative analysis with interview extracts (from Al\u2019s interviews with migrants and war veterans) using the rich clues of sound, gesture, word and narrative form. We\u2019ll think about how we might work with a set of interviews to find historical patterns and illuminate historical themes. And we\u2019ll consider the ethical issues posed when we interpret people\u2019s lives and stories. You\u2019ll finish up brimming with ideas and enthusiasm for working with your own interviews (or other people\u2019s interviews), armed with lists of further reading if you wish to deepen your understanding<\/span><\/p>\n

Alistair Thomson<\/span><\/b>\u00a0has been teaching oral history since he ran an adult education interviewing workshop in regional Australia in 1985, and in 2018 received\u00a0<\/span>an\u00a0<\/span>Australian Award for University Teaching Excellence. Al is Emeritus Professor of History at Monash University and a former President of Oral History Australia and the International Oral History Association. His oral history books include:\u00a0Anzac Memories<\/i>\u00a0(1994 and 2013),\u00a0The Oral History Reader<\/i>\u00a0(1998, 2006 and 2015 with Rob Perks, and 2026, forthcoming with Alex Freund),\u00a0\u00a0Ten Pound Poms: Australia\u2019s Invisible Migrants<\/i>\u00a0(2005, with Jim Hammerton),\u00a0<\/span>Moving Stories: an intimate history of four women across two countries<\/span><\/i>\u00a0(<\/span>2011)\u00a0Oral History and Photography<\/i>\u00a0(2011, with Alexander Freund)\u00a0Australian Lives: An Aural History<\/i>\u00a0(2017, with Anisa Puri),\u00a0Fathering: An Australian History<\/i>\u00a0(2025, with John Murphy, Kate Murphy and Johnny Bell), and\u00a0The Bloomsbury Handbook of Oral History<\/i>\u00a0(2026, with Alexander Freund and Erin Jessee). Website:\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/althomsonoralhistory.com.au\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

REGISTRATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Register now\u00a0with this link<\/a><\/p>\n

Please note that all our events are free and open to all, but registration is mandatory. For any questions, please contact cohds.chorn@concordia.ca<\/p>\n

LOCATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

In-person in LB-1019 (Sunroom), Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling (COHDS), Concordia University, 1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, J.W. McConnell Building (Library Building).<\/p>\n

COHDS\/ALLAB is located on unceded Kanien\u2019keh\u00e1:ka territory, in Tiohti\u00e1:ke\/Montreal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n