The Michigan Oral History Association (MOHA) is conducting this survey to identify and then compile as many oral history collections in the state of Michigan as possible to add to and update its existing database. The survey is open to any institution or organization that stewards oral history collections. This can range from large to small institutions, such as universities, museums, public libraries, local history societies, etc. In this survey, you will be asked to provide basic information about your oral history collection so that a statewide index of Michigan oral histories can be used by researchers, patrons and other users. By participating in this survey, you agree to allow MOHA to use the data you contribute to revamp and continue building its existing database so that oral history collections across the state of Michigan are free to use and available to the public.
Phase One of this survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and will require you to know basic information, statistics and policies regarding your oral history holdings. For the purpose of completing the survey, the below definitions are explained:
- Repository means the physical location that houses the oral history materials.
- Collection means all the oral history materials held in the repository.
- Projects are distinct groups of interviews found within the greater collection.Therefore, a collection can house multiple projects, or consist of only one, or simply be a grouping of random interviews collected over time.
Collection managers can broadly describe the range of interviews in their collections in Phase One. In Phase Two, more details about your collections can be provided over time for each project in a repeatable survey.
If you have any questions about the survey or future plans for the data, please contact us at: database@michiganoha.org
