Oral History is taught as legitimate coursework in many universities in this country.  Some PhD candidates take these courses in order to better understand many cultures who do not have(or did not have) written records. Are you saying that you do not accept this as legitimate skills for a historian to use?  Jane.

-----Original Message-----
>From: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Oct 4, 2008 6:05 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] oral history
>
>Not first person accounts, no.
> 
>My experience has been that much of so called "oral history" is nothing  more 
>than puffery or outright fiction in an attempt to enhance an otherwise  
>mundane family background.
> 
>J South
>
>
>
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Lillian Jane Steele

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