World War Words: The Creation of a World War II–Specific Vocabulary for the Oral History Collection at The National WWII Museum

Many interpretative institutions today focus increasingly on narratives, storytelling, and the personal experiences of historical and everyday figures. Providing access to oral histories through a vocabulary focused on describing these stories and experiences is a unique and effective way to share these narratives. This article is a case study of the development of a controlled vocabulary for the oral history collections at The National WWII Museum.