Oral History

These recordings are called Oral Histories. Oral history collects spoken memories and personal commentaries of historical significance through recorded interviews. An oral history interview generally consists of a well-prepared interviewer questioning an interviewee and recording their exchange on audio or videotape. Tapes of the interview are transcribed, summarized, or indexed and then placed in a library or archives. These interviews may be used for research or excerpted in a publication, radio or video documentary, museum exhibition, dramatization, or other form of public presentation. From: Ritchie, Donald A., Doing Oral History: A Practical Guide, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 19.

We are a group of people on the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial in Camden New Jersey who serve by honoring those who served and preserving their narratives.

We have been done over 300 oral history interviews of U.S. military veterans since the start of the program in 2000. Oral History is a recorded interview of an eyewitness to history, told in the witness’ own words. Our program specializes in military veterans. Most of our veterans’ stories are video recorded. We specialize in US Navy veterans, but interview members of other US armed forces, civilian workers and museum volunteers as well. We also specialize in veterans of the Battleship New Jersey, but crew members of other vessels tell their stories also. We have interviewed veterans from World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, conflict in the Middle East, the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the intervening years.

On the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, NJ
Most of our interviews are done in our studio aboard the Battleship New Jersey located on the waterfront in Camden, New Jersey, where we have the appropriate lighting and camera equipment. However, if it is too difficult or too far to come to the Battleship, we can do interviews in a number of other ways:

• Via the Internet and Video Calling
  If you have a desktop or laptop computer and a webcam (camera), we can do a video interview and recording over the Internet using Teams software, which is free and easy to download from the Internet to your computer.
• Via Telephone
  We can do an audio only recording over the telephone (toll-free).
  Most interviews run 30 to 60 minutes.

If you would like to volunteer to help the oral history program of the Battleship New Jersey, contact us. We need help in scheduling, setting up and conducting interviews, videography, audio recording, editing video & audio recordings, coding of interview content for digital search, including: abstracting, transcribing, indexing by keyword and/or subject; data entry into a database, generation of DVD/CDs, distribution of recordings, record-keeping, fundraising, and related administrative work. If you have experience in any of these areas, great, but it is not necessary as we provide training.

Please reach out to us if you’re interested at L.Jones@battleshipnewjersey.org.

The years we have been doing interviews have taken a toll on the equipment provided by the original funding grants and need replacement badly now.

Goals
We are always looking to get better technology to ensure our recordings are of the highest possible quality. However, new technology is expensive.

We Need Your Help
We ask you to help us preserve and honor the memories of those who served their country. Can you donate funds or needed equipment, so we can sustain this program? The veterans we interview and their families will thank you for your contribution. Generations of future historians, writers, educators, and students will also thank you.

Acknowledgement of Your Contribution
Your contribution will be acknowledged on the Battleship New Jersey. Your contribution may be tax deductible as the Battleship New Jersey is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

By Mail: Make your check or money order payable to Battleship New Jersey & write Oral History Program in the memo field or on an attached note.

Mail to: Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, Oral History Program, 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103.