Cowbird is a public library of human experience. Our mission is to gather and preserve exceptional stories of human life, so the insight and wisdom we accumulate as individuals can live on in the commons, as a resource for others to look to for guidance.
This is an ongoing, ever-changing, and constantly evolving project involving dozens of students, teachers, and community volunteers. The majority of efforts thus far have been applied to the actual interview process as well as posting interviews on this website.
Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews with over 90,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to our weekly broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition.
People are Knowledge--too
Researching the Person
Primary Source (original research)
Collecting Testimonies—creates a narrative
use to produce a speech, blog, oral history project, case study
use to document human rights violations
use for therapeutic purposes
use to challenge dominant narrative
Researching the Context
Understaning the Context--relying on secondary sources
“Untold Stories: Histories of People of Color in Oregon” U-Engage ALS 199 Fall 2014 OSU Faculty/Staff Oral History Project ~ Date: 10-29-2014 Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR Length: 00:59:25 Interviewee: Juan Trujillo Interviewers: Buddy Terry, Reilly Quinn, and William Rowley