www.northeastlabourhistory.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

TOPICS

Oral History Project NEW

Our working lives

Voices from the home Front

Immigration to the North East

1984-5 Miners' Strike in the North East

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT: OUR WORKING LIVES

Notes on progress

We had a very useful meeting on May 9th in the very pleasant surroundings of the new urban farm building at Ouseburn. The discussion touched on the existing project, the desirability of making the Beamish Museum the focus for a launch event, alternative possibilities, equipment, finance, future meeting and responsibilities. We were agreed about the following:

* A strong commitment to involving the North East Labour History Society in oral history.

* The original scheme was over ambitious given the group’s inexperience and unfamiliarity with each other.

* Over the next three to four months each interested person should endeavour to carry out at least one interview which they will transcribe.

* The theme should broadly be working lives but we recognise that an interview works best when the subject is free to talk without too much direction!

* Everyone should seek a subject among friends, work colleagues or Society members.

* There are several members of the Society who would be very good subjects. If you would like to pursue that route please contact John Charlton.

* Everyone should try to buy or borrow a recording device. [see note]

* Grants are available and have to be bid for. Marie-Therese was agreed to investigate.

* We need a convenor but I will continue till someone feels ready and able to take on the job. Is anyone ready to discuss it?

It is not too late to join the project. Just email your interest

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE AT 7.30 P.M. ON TUESDAY 19th SEPTEMBER AT

THE URBAN FARM.

Note on equipment

You can use any portable tape recorder. It is best to have a port which enables transfer of data to a PC. With analogue recording a one hour tape takes one hour to transfer via a basic (Line In-Out jack cable. Target price c £3.50) where it creates a sound file.

I am now using an Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (WS300) Target price £85.00 or Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (VN-240PC) Target price £39.00.The former has a USB connection built in, the latter comes with a USB cable and both transfer any amount of data instantly. The key matter is that the machine enables USB transfer.

Note on transcription

With the sound file on the PC you can open it [any sound programme works/Windows Media Player/Real Player/Juke Box] AND a Word Document together. There are two useful bits of free downloadable software to assist transcription. Easy Script allows you to load the sound file, play it and type in a text panel. Use F keys for pause, slow down, forwards and backwards, etc. Actually you may be surprised to find how rarely you need to pause because when people are being interviewed they tend to pause a lot! Audacity is editing software which enables cutting/splicing etc.

On transcribing itself I am not a purist. I get rid of ‘ums’ and ‘ers’, unnecessary repetition, reorganise material for coherence and even make try to make sense from nonsense! I don’t think any subject will thank you for making them look stupid! I find it is best to type without correcting, leaving that till later. My almost golden rule is to show the subject the finished transcript and allow/invite them to add to or correct.

John Charlton, May 2006

Email nelh@blueyonder.co.uk for help.

VOICES FROM THE HOME FRONT

'Voices from the Home Front has been launched by the National Pensioners Convention as part of its contribution to the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This is a joint project involving the TUC and London Metropolitan University. The project is concerned with people's experiences of the Seconded World War in the workplace. It aims to collect and record memories of, and reflections on, what it was like at work during the war. It focuses on the trade union movement at that time as the movement played a key role in wartime production and the mobilisation of labour. Your experiences in a union, on the shop or office floor, as a shop steward or rank and file member is at the core of this. If you were involved in the Home Front in some way during the war please get in touch, details below'.

Dave Welsh (0207) 553 6503 or homefront@natpencon.org.uk

or in the North East

Ian Fitzgerald (0191) 284 0407 or ian.fitzgerald@unn.ac.uk

MIGRATION PROJECT-SUNDERLAND UNIVERSITY

Sunderland University is supporting a programme of research to look at the history of migration to the region. What have been the obstacles facing people who attempted to settle in the North East? Have some generations found it easier than others to settle? Would you like to be interviewed on these topics? We are also looking for people who have kept papers or records of community activism.

If you would like more details, please contact us: david.renton@sunderland.ac.uk, or write to Dr. David Renton, Priestman Building, Sunderland University, SR1Communities of the North East, c/o 3PZ

NEW SUBJECT

Letter from Katy Shaw

Hi
I've just come across your website and would firstly like to congratulate you on such a marvellous piece of work. Secondly I'd like to make a 'plea'. I am currently researching a book/academic project (Lancaster University) on the 1984-5 miners strike in the North East.

The focus of my research is the (re)writing of the strike through pieces of fiction, poetry, cartoons etc produced by the miners themselves and their families. I wondered if it would be possible to put a call for material up on your site? All work will be acknowledged and would be central to a new investigation into the unheard voices of the strike.
many thanks for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.
yours
Katy Shaw

katy shaw <ks313@yahoo.com>