Content Analysis of Digital Oral History Collections in Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America

Over the past sixty-eight years, oral history interviews have emerged as valuable primary sources of research by capturing nuanced perspectives of the past. Proponents argue that the enduring value of these resources stems from their ability to fill the gap in archives by giving voice to those who have been historically marginalized in society. For much of the twentieth century these voices remained silent, as archivists struggled to provide access to these unique acquisitions. The digital revolution has ignited new hopes that technology can resolve the problems of access to oral history collections. This paper aims to shed light on how oral histories have been presented in the digital interfaces of several collections from Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. By examining the content that is available to users worldwide, a clearer image of the priorities and standards used in this new era of oral histories will be revealed.