Memory Keepers and Story Catchers: A Beginner’s Guide to Preserving Family Oral Histories with Delainey Bowers

Please note: This event has two sessions, 10:00-11:00 am OR Noon-1:00 pm.

For decades, oral history has been used as a tool to collect, document, and preserve the rich and culturally complex lived experiences of everyday people. In this workshop, we’ll hit the “record” button on members of our own families, allowing us to explore the traditions, legends, and legacies that shape how we understand ourselves, our relatives, and our communities at-large. 

The topics covered in this presentation will include how to conduct pre-interview research, how to generate meaningful and thought-provoking questions, how to navigate the oral history interview process, the best audiovisual equipment to use, and how to store your materials for long term preservation.

Delainey Bowers is an independent folklorist based in western Kentucky. She earned her BA in English from Appalachian State University, her MLS from Indiana University, and her MA in folk studies from Western Kentucky University. As a folklorist, Bowers has partnered with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Kentucky Oral History Commission, the Kentucky Arts Council, and the Kentucky Folklife Program. She also serves as the lead researcher for the award-winning paranormal podcast Monsters Among Us.