How Oral History Shapes a Community

By Megan Bush, LCHS Intern, University of Idaho undergraduate in History

As an oral history intern this semester at the Latah County Historical Society, I have learned that the study of history is not just about dates or events written in history books. History is shared stories that shape our modern understanding. These histories can be best expressed when it is told through the voices of people who were there to live them. Oral histories convey emotions, relay traditions, and preserve memories that are hidden within the footnotes of our textbooks or lost to time. Through my work listening and auditing oral histories for the LCHS collection, I have come to see the vast importance of oral history in public history spaces, as it gives a voice to the otherwise unheard and shapes the identity of a community.

Many of the oral histories I listened to detailed the stories of the past generations of Latah County. Many of the interviewees grew up during the Great Depression and detailed their families' hard work, continued resilience, and sacrifice. Several individuals described their experiences growing up on self-sufficient homesteads, raising their own livestock and growing just enough crops to feed their families through the winter and trading the rest at local markets for survival essentials they could not produce themselves. Despite the hardships these interviewees faced, they still made it a point to share the love, laughter, and fond memories they made. They shared childhood memories of their siblings and friends, school dances, community celebrations, and spoke passionately about their educators, neighbors, and the land we still share. Many were only one generation removed from Nordic immigrants, who left their lives behind to prosper in a new land. In that, they kept their traditions, values, and community within the hearts of the generations that followed. They opened schoolhouses and churches to keep the spirit alive and the community strong. As the rural schoolhouses and small parishes started to fade through time, the lived memory shared primarily through oral histories kept the spirit of resilience, love, and joy alive for historians to permanently record.

These interviews demonstrated a critical understanding of why oral history is so important. Oral history uncovers the real and raw truth of historical events. Written histories of events like the Great Depression or the existence of rural homesteads and one-room schoolhouses merely relay information on the general conception of that reality. But oral histories really show us what it was like to truly experience that often unfathomable reality. It shows how families and communities adapted and grew stronger in a personal way. Transcribing these stories made the history that surrounds my daily life as a Latah County resident deeply human. Instead of viewing historical events from the perspective of a textbook, I heard first-hand stories of what it was like to live in Latah County nearly a century ago. I heard stories of families doing what was necessary to get by, no matter how hard it would be, but also stories full of humor and gentle kindness. I heard stories ranging from family dinners with favorite teachers, to especially hard winters, to traveling bear shows. These recordings revealed to me that even in times of hardship, Latah County residents still created deep connections to their communities.

Through an oral history collection, such as the one procured by the Latah County Historical Society. Younger generations, no matter residency or familial status, are able to listen and understand experiences far out from our current modern reality. Hearing the real voices of community members, their authentic pauses, humor, and emotions create a powerful connection that a written record will never achieve. Oral history preserves collective memory and allows people to engage with public history in a tangible way. Communities are not built by geography, townships, or connective roadways, but by the stories of our past that have helped define the present and continue to advance our future. Oral history helps preserve the experiences of communities that are often overlooked. No matter how big or small a communal identity is, each is worthy of making its practices known and forever preserved. We do not need to be celebrities, politicians, or billionaires to make our stories known and impact our community in a positive way. Our local everyday people, no matter the generation or occupation, shape Latah County’s meaningful history.

My experience as an oral history intern at LCHS this semester has shown me that oral history is one of the most valuable historical resources today. Oral history records not only provide primary evidence for historical fact but also humanity as it truly appears. Through the preservation of voices for a public audience, oral history provides emotional yet critical nuances that generations to come can further connect with and better understand the sacrifices made and the hardships endured to get us where we are today. Thank you to the Latah County Historical Society for offering me and guiding me through this opportunity to be an oral history intern this semester, as this opportunity has further expanded my knowledge of historical preservation through my undergraduate degree. I encourage all to seek out the oral history collection provided by LCHS for themselves and experience the beauty of this historical preservation tool.