2024 Oral History Association Annual Meeting

The next generation of Oral Historians has much to contribute. This panel will examine four unique and compelling histories collected for the purpose of preserving the histories of underrepresented groups whose stories add richness and complexity to the history of the US.
"The Other Country": Challenging the Cultural Concepts of Motorcycle Clubs
Cody Reinhard, Northern Kentucky University

This oral history project examines the change over time in motorcycle club culture by collecting oral histories from members in several clubs in multiple locations and US states. These oral histories will capture not only the first person stories of club members, but will illustrate how cultural forces, both internal and external, affected the zeitgiest of the motorcycle club from the 1950s to the present.

The Griots of New Richmond: Black History as Oral History
Jamie Thompson, Northern Kentucky University

The focus of my research is on the preservation of the stories of the African American community in New Richmond, Ohio, where I have collected stories from both residents and local historians. These oral histories have been showcased in my podcast, "Our History Matters," and illustrate why focusing on smaller, rural communities is important to history.

The Sisters of Charity and the Second Wave: Remaining Faithful after Vatican II
Keegan Brown, Mount St. Joseph University

This oral history project focuses on collecting oral histories from the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, and will build on the relatively limited oral history archive of women religious that exists in the US today. By placing the Sisters of Charity into the larger historical context of US history, I will examine their significant but overlooked role in supporting local communities and providing education to contsitutencies that would have otherwise been overlooked, as well as explore the reasons they chose to remain part of a religious order when second wave feminism began to provide women with opportunities that had earlier been denied them.

From the Convent to Consulting: An Oral History with Virginia Riehl
Christopher Riehl, Northern Kentucky University

Virginia Riehl, who grew up in Bellvue, Kentucky, found herself heavily influenced by the Catholic community that thrived there at the time, and she eventually took holy orders and became a Sister of Notre Dame-a safe and legitimate way to 'run away from home' and pursue her education beyond grade twelve. She eventually left the order due to the changes that occured as a result of Vatican II and the concurrent feminist movement, founding her own consulting firm and living out a compelling story that illustrates how both her Catholic upbringing and the opportunity to pursue her education are part of the larger national story that was unfolding at the time with regard to the roles of women.ABSTRACT: Gen Z, often touted as eschewing books, spending countless hours scrolling on their phones, and as unambitious, have been unnecessarily mischaracterized. What is true about Gen Z, however, is that they love to read, care deeply about the planet, and, in the case of this panel, are passionately committed to the field of history. The projects included in this panel range from collecting conversations with descendants of enslaved persons to motorcycle gang members to women who have wrestled with their place in US society and found creative solutions to carve out their niche. Using past practitioners such as Taylor Branch and Urvashi Butali as inspiration, they have made the best use of today’s technology to preserve these histories for presentation in myriad formats. They aspire to bridge the past, present, and future of oral history and understand the value of collaboration, sharing techniques and solutions. And, they are finding new and exciting platforms through which to share their work to inform and inspire future generations.