Differences Quote by Studs Terkel
“I'm called an oral historian, which is something of a joke. Oral history was here long before the pen, long before Gutenberg and the printing press. The difference is I have a tape recorder in my hand.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Oral History Interview, Studs Terkel, 1970s
Oral historians preserve stories using recordings, predating written records and printing technology.
In simple terms: Oral historians record stories before books existed.
Value and protect spoken memories.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Family histories
- community archives
- museum exhibits
- educational curricula
- personal memoirs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure recorded histories remain accessible?
- What role does technology play in preserving memory?
Recorded memories can be lost if media degrades or is inaccessible.