Special Issue: Oral History in Kentucky (review)

The Register is the official journal of the Kentucky Historical Society. This double issue is a celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC) and the contributions of Kentuckians to the field of oral history.

The introduction highlights Kentuckians who have been involved in oral history beginning in the 1940s when Forrest Pogue interviewed World War II veterans and Thomas D. Clark conducted interviews for his books. Kentuckians continued to be active in the field of oral history locally as well, as when John Ed Pearce and Al Smith led the efforts that helped create the Kentucky Bicentennial Oral History Commission in 1976 (which has since shortened its name to the Kentucky Oral History Commission). Today it stands as the only statewide commission of its kind in the country. Kentuckians have also been active nationally serving in various positions in the Oral History Association, including president, board members, editors, and committee members.

This issue has five articles that highlight oral history. Three are transcripts, one of an interview with Ed Prichard and two of roundtable discussions from the KOHC’s thirtieth anniversary conference. The other articles are a memorial look at Forrest Pogue and an essay/book review by Tracy K’Meyer that highlights many issues facing the practicing oral historian. The issue also includes book reviews and an index to volume 104.

The first article consolidates transcripts of the first twelve of eighteen interviews with Ed Prichard. Vic Hellard conducted these interviews between 1982 and 1984, covering events of Prichard’ s life up to 1967. Born in Paris, Kentucky, Prichard graduated from Harvard Law School and became a rising star in both Kentucky and national political scenes, serving as a Supreme Court Clerk for Justice Frankfurter and later working as part of the New Deal White House under Roosevelt. In 1950, he was convicted of ballot stuffing in a Bourbon County election. He candidly discusses his difficulty afterward and his reentry into the political scene to become involved in the gubernatorial administrations of Bert Combs and Ned Breathitt in Kentucky.

Williams states that Prichard’s interview was chosen because it is a “stellar example of why it is important to preserve memories such as these through the practice of oral history” (394). The transcripts give insights into the culture of politics in Kentucky in the 1950s, enhanced by Prichard’s very engaging storytelling style.

The next two pieces are transcripts of roundtable discussions at the KOHC thirtieth anniversary conference held in Louisville in September 2006. Kim Lady Smith moderated the discussion on issues that shaped oral history. Panelists included such leaders in the field as Charles T. Morrissey, Donald A. Ritchie, Terry Birdwhistell, and Albert Broussard. Smith states the purpose of the panel was “to look at issues that have shaped oral history over the past 30 to 40 years; to identify some of the turning points, some of those key transitions within the profession; and to look at what some of those challenges might be in the future” (610). The second roundtable was moderated by Anne G. Ritchie with panelists Alessandro Portelli, Rebecca Sharpless, John A. Neuenschwander, and Douglas A. Boyd. The discussions highlight how each panelist started their careers as oral historians, their philosophies on oral history, issues involved with oral history, and fascinating stories of their experiences. Unfortunately, there was a technical glitch in both sessions and some of the discussions were lost. However, for students of oral history, this discussion is very helpful in showing the diverse ways the panelists entered the field, how oral history has changed over the years, trends in the field, and could provide a challenge and a model for helping students find their own specialties. Likewise, the footnoted references are...