International Network

The Oral History Society has been promoting the use of oral history in research, education and heritage since 1973. The organisation supports projects, publishes the leading Oral History Journal, and offers training and conferences. It serves both professional researchers and volunteers, emphasising the importance of voices that might otherwise go unheard. Its work contributes to preserving personal stories as part of British history.

The USC Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg, holds one of the world’s largest audiovisual archives with over 55,000 testimonies from survivors of genocide. The foundation began with Holocaust testimonies and has since expanded its work to include other genocides. Through the Visual History Archive, the organisation enables researchers and educators around the world to access and engage with these powerful personal stories.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. documents, researches and tells the story of the Holocaust. A key part of the museum’s work is collecting and providing access to thousands of testimonies from survivors and eyewitnesses. These oral history collections are a powerful resource for education, research and remembrance. The museum collaborates internationally and offers access to its digital collections in multiple languages.

Based at Yale University, the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies began in 1979 with the recording of testimonies from Holocaust survivors. The collection holds thousands of hours of video interviews in which survivors, liberators and witnesses share their experiences. As one of the earliest audiovisual oral history initiatives, the Fortunoff Archive has served as a key model for similar archives around the world.

The Oral History Association (OHA) is a leading American organisation dedicated to the development of oral history as a field since 1966. The association hosts an annual conference, provides ethical guidelines and best practices, and publishes the Oral History Review. The OHA fosters collaboration among researchers, heritage professionals, communities and institutions, both within the United States and internationally.

The International Oral History Association (IOHA) connects researchers and practitioners around the world who engage in oral history. The IOHA organises a biennial international conference and promotes the exchange of knowledge, methodologies, and ethical practices in the field. The organisation encourages an intercultural perspective and provides a platform for voices from diverse regions, with a strong focus on inclusion and locally rooted approaches.

Oral-History.digital is a digital platform developed by Freie Universität Berlin, offering access to resources, projects and methodologies in the field of oral history. Aimed at researchers, students and anyone interested, the platform provides digital tools, publications, and guidance on the ethical and technical dimensions of oral history practice. It also serves as a knowledge hub for both German and international initiatives.

EHRI is a European partnership that provides access to archives and research data on the Holocaust, with oral history playing a key role. EHRI promotes collaboration between archives, museums, universities and researchers, and develops digital infrastructure to make sources accessible across borders. The network also supports early-career researchers and offers training on the use of oral history and other historical sources.

The Srebrenica Memorial Center commemorates the July 1995 genocide and collects testimonies from survivors, relatives and others involved. The centre is developing an extensive oral history archive as part of its efforts in education and documentation. This initiative contributes to collective remembrance, truth-seeking and reconciliation both within the region and beyond, placing personal stories at the heart of how this tragedy is remembered.

The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects and preserves the stories of U.S. war veterans through video interviews, letters and diaries. The project offers a valuable resource for historians, journalists, students and the general public. By documenting personal experiences, it provides a nuanced view of the impact of war on individuals and highlights the importance of oral history in shaping our understanding of the past.

FARO, the Flemish support centre for cultural heritage, coordinates a learning network on oral history. This network brings together heritage professionals, volunteers and researchers to share knowledge and experiences related to oral history in Flanders. Through workshops, study days and practical examples, the network contributes to the professionalisation of the field and encourages new initiatives that place personal stories at the centre of heritage work.

The German Oral History Network is a platform that connects researchers, archives and institutions engaged in oral history. Coordinated in part by Linde Apel, the network facilitates exchange on methodology, ethics and practical approaches. It organises meetings, shares resources, and promotes collaboration at both national and international levels. The network aims to strengthen the visibility and quality of oral history practice in Germany.