Birmingham Black Oral History Project Archives: Orchard Learning Resources Centre

Title: Birmingham Black Oral History Project Archives: Orchard Learning Resources Centre

Description: The archive of the Birmingham Black Oral History Project comprises 64 cassettes (copies of the original tapes), transcripts of these tapes, a video and photographs of interviewees. The originals of the tape recordings are deposited in Birmingham City Sound Archive, housed in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Between 1990-92, 25 people were interviewed. Conducted by the Project members, the interviews were structured, following a set questionnaire, and were recorded on tape.
The collection moved to the Orchard Learning Resources Centre in September 1999. The Project was about putting the record straight, and was founded in 1990 by a charitable donation to collect, preserve and disseminate the spoken history of Birmingham’s black population. It has collected (on tape) a modest amount of material comprising life stories and reminiscences of elderly immigrants to Birmingham. They include grassroots experiences on arrival in Britain, first impressions, experiences of racism, reactions to cultural and social differences, and religious experiences, especially the unwelcome reception of African Caribbean peoples in mainstream churches in the UK.

The collection is appropriate for general interest and for teaching oral history. It is also hoped that students on oral history courses will undertake projects to record further reminiscences and add to the collection to maintain its relevance.

Strengths: Life histories and reminiscences of elderly immigrants to Birmingham

Size: 64 sound recordings

Catalogue: Talis

Catalogue URL: http://library.bham.ac.uk/

Main URL: http://www.is.bham.ac.uk/olrc/bbohp.htm

Access: Members of the public can gain free access to the OLRC on five days within a 12-month period. Suitable identification (e.g. driver's licence, bank card, etc) should be presented on each visit, and visitors will be required to fill in a registration card. Beyond the five annual free visits there are a number of additional options open to members of the wider academic community. Full details are available on the following web pages: http://www.is.bham.ac.uk/lending/access.htm and http://www.is.bham.ac.uk/olrc/admissions.htm.
Opening hours during term time: Mondays to Thursdays: 08.30 - 22.00 / Fridays: 08.30 - 19.00 / Saturdays & Sundays: 10.00 - 18.00
Vacation opening hours: Mondays to Fridays: 09.00 - 19.00 / Saturdays: 10.00 - 14.00 / Sundays: Closed.

Acquisition dates: 1999

Note:

Interest: Asian, Black

Complete: Complete

Subjects

Oral history

Migration

Immigration

Ethnic groups

Personal/Corporate names

Places

Birmingham, United Kingdom