Debates in Australian History - Essay Example

? Archival Documents and Oral History Are Sources of Historical Data. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages linked tothis historiographical method? Among the leading sources of historical data are archival documents and oral history. Archives have been in existence since ancient times. In O’Toole and Cox’s viewpoint, the term “archives” was initially used to mean a collection of all written materials (O’Toole & Cox 1990, p.28). However, in the contemporary world, this term has had a three-fold meaning: firstly, to designate documents that have been accumulated or created by individuals or organizations in the contemporary daily execution of their mandates. The term may also be used to denote those programs or agencies which are independent in nature within an institution on which the responsibility of selecting, preserving and offering access or archival documents is bestowed on. The third meaning refers to repositories or buildings that are used for purposes of housing various collections of archival material. This paper, however, aims at presenting an in-depth understanding of archival documents as a broad collection of media and other traditional textual materials, including films, photographs, sound recordings, videotapes, magnetic disks and magnetic tapes (Shultz, Hoffman & Reiter-Palmon 2001, p.23). Oral history, on the other hand, refers to the formal, well-rehearsed accounts of the past presented by traditional bearers who have been culturally endorsed to informal conversations regarding to things and incidents of the old days among the members of the family, coworkers and/or neighbors. Oral history may also entail printed compilations of old stories which were told about both the past and the present experiences or even recorded interviews with certain persons deemed to have an imperative story to tell (Mnjama 1993, p.83). Each and every of these uses has a certain specific currency. Undeniably, a majority of the people throughout history has got to learn about the past through spoken words. In addition, for those individuals in the society who are history-conscious, firsthand accounts of the past have been so preserved for the record and to be precise, at those moments when they were historical actors and with their memories of the pass from the scene. Being histographical methods, both oral history and archival documents have had their merits, as well as demerits. Advantages Archival documents are important cultural resources. This is because these materials have been authored in such a conscious way so as to not inform, but also perpetuate knowledge, convey feelings, ideas and opinions. Moreover, the authoring of archival documents is geared towards entertaining and availing information about their subject (McKemmish 1993, p.9). Archival documents are customarily a part of the broader group of records which are closely related. Since they are created or accumulated in the course of undertaking business, these documents do play a central role in facilitating the business process. Another of the advantages of archival documents is that they are useful for historical and/or research purposes. They actually provide a doorway through which both the past and present events can be examined. Furthermore, a variety of researchers, including scholars, students at various levels, genealogists, biographers, local historians, documentary filmmakers and independent writers, take advantage of these archival documents (Lucas 1981, p.228). It is also worth noting that archival documents can be used for a number of purposes and by assorted audiences. As thus, records of organizations which do not have their personal institutional archives, as well as individual personal papers are most a times actively sought by the historical societies. Additionally, archival documents are the basis for legal evidence, personal and collective memory and organizational knowledge. Since archival documents are undeniably information objects serving as an evidence of the past events, they not only record information regarding to the activities of the olden days, but also act as memory assistances allowing it users to recollect and revive these past activities. They greatly help in the re-communication of past events at a certain point in the future (Garderen 2001, p.1). In approaching the past, there are a number of approaches that an individual or a tutor can use. These may include, but not limited to, census data, newspapers, letters, diaries, memoirs, photographs and other such documents which present the history of different activities. All the above enlisted may or may not be contained in the archival documents. In event that this is the case, oral history then comes in play. As earlier mentioned, oral history entails recording the memories, attitudes, feelings and experiences of people (Ritzenthaler 1983, p.34). This may be done using video or digital audio technology. Oral history is living history, since it is all about us and as it is well known, each and every individual has a history. Notably, oral history entails facts. It is for this reason, therefore, that oral history as a histographical method is significant due to the fact that it avails firsthand information and/or evidence of the past. Moreover, oral history facilitates the passing down of folklore, traditions and stories from one generation to the other by word of mouth. As thus, oral history greatly helps in the capturing of the rich traditions of a community, place and/or society, it is through oral history that the past for each and every individual is preserved for the future (Kathpalia 1973, p.12). Some of the advantages that oral history has are quite unique as compared to advantages that other historical sources avail. To begin with, oral history permits the learning about the viewpoint of individuals who may not have been included in historical records. While historian and scholars of history can use archival documents for purposes of reconstructing the past, people do fall the cracks of already written records on a daily basis. For instance, business leaders and politicians are likely to show up on a regular basis both on the media and official documents, but rarely do the rest of us who are not public figures. It is, therefore, likely that if a person was to reconstruct the life of the latter solely from written records, only a few would go on and the information so gathered is likely to reveal very little about each and every life aspect of the person’s life (Pitti 1999, p.13). As is the case with archival documents, oral history permits the compensation of the digital age. Historians of the 18th and 19th centuries can comfortable depend on extensive correspondence, as well as diary entries, made regularly as pertains to information of the past life. On the contrary, technological advances of the contemporary world, including the telephone, emails and web-based communications, have made a replacement of the valuable written records. In the absence of oral history, a great percentage of the personal history of the late 20th and 21st centuries will be unavailable to future historians (HLF 2009, p.18). Moreover, oral history allows an individual to learn different kinds of information. Though there are extensive written source about individuals and events, the kind of information we might be in need of may be unavailable. Undoubtedly, speeches, newspaper articles and even government documents usually contain useful information. On the contrary, these sources may be deficient of or negligent of some personal and/or private experiences. It is solely through oral history that an individual can get to learn about feelings, hopes, disappointments, aspirations, personal experiences and family histories of individuals (McDonald 1995, p.7). Oral history is also advantageous in the sense that an individual is in a position of asking questions of interest or even seek clarifications where he or she needs the same. Oral history also presents the actor with an opportune moment of telling his/her story in his/her words. This enhances human interaction since researchers and scholars do enter into a conversation which pertains to a shared issue of interest. This interaction with one another possesses the potential of tremendously rewarding the parties involved. Besides, the perspectives that oral history exposes are relative truths which can be weighed in efforts of fixing together historical dialogues. The knowledge so obtained through researching oral witness in most cases highlights the individual’s account whose stories is more often than not overlooked and can presents insight into the history of the people that has been generalized via the strict reference of partisan history (Cahna 1983, p.24). Disadvantages Notwithstanding the above mentioned advantages of the histographical method, there is also a number of disadvantages associated with the same. The first disadvantage is appropriateness of data. The relationship that exists between information from the various sources as for its use and its validity is quite imperative. Ordinarily, any information gathered in any study, be it historical or otherwise, ought to be sufficient enough and updated to meet the purpose of the study. However, in most cases, archival documents contain information of the olden days, which may actually be outdated. As thus, this information may end up being on no use to an individual (Garderen 2007, p.1). In the case of oral history, the information so collected may be inappropriate in the sense that those availing the same information may not have necessary understand what they were required to shade light on in a clearer way. In addition, the researchers or the scholars may hardly have control over the methodology through which the information is to be gathered. This may, therefore, result to collection of information which will at the end of the day not be used anywhere. In such a case, there will be wastage of time and other resources, which are usually scarce in nature. Another of the disadvantages of these histographical methods is that important day of some of the events might be missing either from the records, on the side of the archival documents, or the orator (in the case of the oral history) may not be in a position to clearly remember the exact dates and time. In addition, personal documentation many a times is characterized with biasness, which is couched in both terminologies and conceptions of the person creating the same. As a result, this limits the range of comprehension and perception among the end users of the information. Institutional and organizational records are more or less like so, especially when it is factored that the reason as to why they were retained was based on the purpose of the creator and not the interests of the researchers (Dolloff & Perkinson 1977, p.8). Archival documents and oral history are also characterized with lamentable incompleteness of the past reality. As a matter of fact, only an insignificant proportion of the range of past actions, thoughts, emotions and reactions has been recorded in forms which are tangible. Besides, a lesser proportion of the same outlives either the creator or the immediate function. The canny and experienced historian is almost always cognizant of the above mentioned context, content and incompleteness of primary sources and its influence on fidelity to past reality (O’Toole & Cox 2006, p. 120). Despite the fact that such an historian can compensate for or guard against the same, there are a number of factors which affect the quality and scope of documentation governing the research of the historian and resultantly shaping the conclusions so reached at. Less predictable, less obvious and more challenging to clearly perceive or even guard against in a consistent manner usually affect the interpretation and existence of the sources. The evidential reliability of the archival documents has over the years been terribly compromised by the time they enter into the purview of the historians, as well as in their creation, protection and their bibliographic control (O’Toole & Cox 2006, p. 122). As historians are trying to penetrate the more into their study, and more especially, the study of family life and social structure, they have come to discover that there is a diversity of factors influencing the person bestowed with the creation of documentation reflecting the different aspect of a society. This has led to the distortion of information, thus, making oral history deficient. Even for those sources which have found their way into the earlier mentioned repositories and have been preserved for research purposes are made up of only a fraction of the total amount of information to have ever been created (McKemmish 1993, p.15). The documented principal causes of the distortion talked of in an earlier paragraph include such as selection by the creator, accident, the values and interest of the scholar and the society at large, as well as the research and repository logistics. Paper documents, being organic, flammable and biodegradable do perish quickly in the event that they are attacked by water, fire, insects, mold, acids, rodents and pollutants. Passing judgment on the basis of the physical condition of majority of the paperwork in the case of the archival documents that drift down to the repositories, it can be argued out that a vast amount of evidence may have been lost through the storage conditions under which a great percentage of these documents had been kept (Lucas 1981, p.231). Other gaps in documentation, irrespective of whether they are widespread or deliberate than the ones mentioned in the above paragraphs, can equally impact on the past aspects documented. These have not been entirely predictable or even random. Moreover, there may be other distortions which are inherent in the file structures emphasizing certain specific topics. The work of bringing all such information to a central collection point, however, amplifies the visual impression of its quantity and resultantly its significance (Gardere 2007, p.1). In other cases, both physical characteristics and the organization of those concerned in these histographical methods may impose barriers which are measurably insuperable to the effective use of the methods. Other disadvantages include difficulties in detection or sources or errors, low quality of data associated with these methods and failure to develop skills necessary for planning and collection of data. Bibliography Cuhna, D 1983. Library and Archives Conservation: 1980’s and Beyond. The Sacercrow Press, Metuchen, New Jersey. Dolloff, FW & Perkinson, RL 1977. How to Care for Works of Art on paper, 2nd ed. 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O’Toole, JM & Cox, RJ 2006. Understanding Archives and Manuscripts. Society of American Archivists. Pitti, DV, 1999. ‘Encoded Archival Description: An Introduction and Overview’, D-Lib Magazine, vol.5, no.11. Institute of Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Ritzenthaler, ML 1983. Archives and Manuscripts Conversation: Basic Manual Series Society of America Archivist. Chicago. Shultz, KS, Hoffman, CC & Reiter-Palmon, R 2001. Using Archival Data for I-O Research: Advantages, Pitfalls, Sources and Examples. Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). San Diego. Read More