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Department: History

Research Focus: Women's and Gender Studies, African Women's History, Oral History, Digital Storytelling

 

Potential Student Project(s):

The student researcher will work 5 h/week on the ASA Women’s Caucus (WC) of the African Studies Association (ASA) Oral Histories and Exhibit for WC ASA 50+5. Because of a COVID related delay the WC is celebrating its 50th anniversary in its 55th year. Student researchers will be trained in how to conduct, edit, and transcribe oral interviews of women leaders of the WC. They will conduct these interviews virtually in the Oral History Lab at Ball State. They will transform these recordings as well as images provided by WC members into an exhibit for the annual ASA meeting. The Women’s Caucus needs the exhibit completed before their annual meeting on November 20-22. Students may be asked to attend in-person or virtually this academic conference. The mentor will assist in securing funds to travel to Atlanta, if desired.

 

Attributes/skills/background sought in undergraduate:

1. interest in women's history
2. willingness to conduct interviews

 

Mentoring Plan:

ASA Women’s Caucus Oral Histories and Exhibit for ASA 50+5
Student Researcher will generally work 4 hours per week independently and meet with the mentor 1 hour a week for a total of 5 hours per week.

Week 1:
- Meet one another
- Background readings on conducting oral history interviews

Week 2:
- Meet to discuss readings
- Collaborate in-person or virtually on a set of common questions to be asked to interviewees

Week 3:
- Revise basic questionnaire
- Discuss strategies for improvising during interviews

Weeks 3-4:
- Schedule interviews for Sep 15-Oct 15
- Train students in how to use equipment in oral history lab

Weeks 5-10
- Schedule interviews Sep 15-Oct 15 (no later than Oct 24)
- Send informational e-mail to interview subjects 1-2 weeks in advance
- Send reminder 24-48 hours in advance
- Conduct and record oral histories
- Edit interviews Sound editing Add identifying text to videos – name, title (?), other (?)
Gather images of interview subjects in the field or present day (whichever they are comfortable
providing) or even just favorite images from WC events or research in Africa
- Create a map of where interview subjects conducted field work
- Pull interesting quotes from interviews

Weeks 9-12
- Send any printed materials to print shop by Nov 1.
- Design digital and/ or panel exhibit of WC history to display in ASA exhibit hall

Weeks 13-15
- Transcribe oral histories (or as time permits earlier)
- Finalize digital version of exhibit
- Revise digital version of exhibit based on WC feedback at the ASA Conference in November

 

Contact: 765 285-8629; Burkhardt 219A

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