XVIIIth International Oral History Association, Barcelona, Spain

The International Oral History Association will hold its next meeting in Spain at the University of Barcelona, July 9-12, 2014 (master classes will be held on July 8). Its theme will be Power and Democracy. The force of democracy as well as the resistance it has met have prompted oral history projects around the world. Interviews with advocates of change have supplemented and supplanted archives of discredited regimes. Oral histories have documented social and political upheavals, reform movements and reactions.

Agha Jamal Baladiechi’s Memoirs of Norouz released

“Baladieh Bitter and Sweet” penned by Shermin Naderi contains the memoirs of Agha Jamal Baladiechi who relates the memories of Tehran and its municipality during Naseri to Pahlavi historical periods together with photos and humor. A large part of the book focuses on his memories of Norouz.

Memories of Dr Reza released

The Unstated is a book entailing memories of Dr Enayat Reza in interviews by Abdolhussein Azarang, Ali Bahramian, Sadegh Sadjadi and Ali Hamedani. The book covers Dr Reza's memories of his activities in the Mass Party and the Democrat Sect. IBNA: Speaking with IBNA, Ali Hamedani, one of the interviewers, stated that the memories are a monumental contribution to the history of the Mass Party in Iran prior to the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Accounts on 24 years of hosting Iraqi captives released

Iraqi Captives or Guests is the title of a report on 24 years of hosting Iraqi POWs by the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. IBNA: The book is published by the Sacred Defense Values and Works Preservation Organization of Iran’s Army and entails a report on the way Iranians hosted Iraqi captives of the war from 1980 through 2003.

War Crimes to be presented at TIBF

Mohammad Bagher Nik-khah Bahrami, author of War Crimes, has focused on Iraq’s chemical warfare against Iran during its assault on the country. IBNA: Published by the Sacred Defense Research and Document Center, the book reviews the Sacred Defense events so far as chemical warfare by Iraqi forces and Iran’s defense measures were concerned.

Back to Business: A Next Step in the Field of Oral History (2)

In order for historians to understand organizational and elite behavior, an archive is of the essence. In an oral world, however, new ways must be found to create archives. Oral history can greatly contribute to finding those new ways. Moreover, oral history can provide sources in a more timely fashion than conventional archives are able to provide them. It can take up to a century before government archives are opened. Consequently, oral history often offers the only sources available. Oral history projects on American presidents, for example, are important historical sources since “the White House operates largely as an oral culture.

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