Watch this space for news of the Engineers Oral History Project
REPORT OF THE 19th SEPTEMBER MEETING
We had a productive meeting on 19th September. We heard reports on work in progress and ideas on work which might be done.
M-T reported on various grants available for Oral History work. Agreed that we should prepare a proposal when we have a body of exiting work to show.
Four people have interviews in progress either awating further visits or transcription.
JC reported on interviews done at a printing factory with the active co-operation of a union official and invited anyone interested in carrying out further interviews of this type to get in touch.
PM suggested that a series of interviews might be done of three 'different' generations in one work place looking at changes in working life over a 30+year period.
JC has a number of people willing to be interviewd for the project. Interested interviewers should get in touch. They include a supermarket check-out worker, a printer a mining engineer and some veteran members of the NELHS.
The suggestion was made that we should consider collecting the material into a publication.
A date for the next meeting will be arranged. Meanwhile members of the OHG should continue poreparing material.
September 2006
We had a very useful meeting on Tuesday 9th May in the very pleasant surroundings of the new urban farm building at Ouseburn. The discussion touched on the existing project, the desirability of making the Beamish Museum the focus for a launch event, alternative possibilities, equipment, finance, future meeting and responsibilities. We were agreed about the following:
* A strong commitment to involving the North East Labour History Society in oral history.
* The original scheme was over ambitious given the group’s inexperience and unfamiliarity with each other.
* Over the next three to four months each interested person should endeavour to carry out at least one interview which they will transcribe.
* The theme should broadly be working lives but we recognise that an interview works best when the subject is free to talk without too much direction!
* Everyone should seek a subject among friends, work colleagues or Society members.
* There are several members of the Society who would be very good subjects. If you would like to pursue that route please contact John Charlton.
* Everyone should try to buy or borrow a recording device. [see note]
* Grants are available and have to be bid for. Marie-Therese agreed to investigate.
* We need a convenor but I will continue till someone feels ready and able to take on the job. Is anyone ready to discuss it?
Note on equipment
You can use any portable tape recorder. It is best to have a port which enables transfer of data to a PC. With analogue recording a one hour tape takes one hour to transfer via a basic (Line In-Out jack cable. Target price c £1.99 at B & Q) where it creates a sound file.
I am now using an Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (WS300) Target price £85.00 or Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN-240PC) Target price £39.00. The former has a USB connection built in, the later comes with a USB cable and transfers any amount of data instantly. The key matter is that the machine enables USB transfer.
With the sound file on the PC you can open it [any sound programme works/Windows Media Player/Real Player/Juke Box] AND a Word Document together. Listen and type. If you need the pause button you can click on it easily. Actually you may be surprised to find how rarely you need to because when people are being interviewed they tend to pause a lot.
Note on transcription
There are two useful bits of free downloadable software to assist transcription. Easy Script allows you to load the sound file, play it and type in a text panel. Use F keys for pause, slow down, forwards and backwards, etc. Audacity is editing software which enables cutting/splicing etc.
On transcribing itself I am not a purist. I get rid of ‘ums’ and ‘ers’, unnecessary repetition, reorganise material for coherence and even make try to make sense from nonsense! I don’t think any subject will thank you for making them look stupid! I find it is best to type without correcting, leaving that till later. My almost golden rule is to show the subject the finished transcript and allow/invite them to add to or correct.
John Charlton, May 2006
Email nelh@blueyonder.co.uk for help.