Italian Scholar to Discuss Oral History Techniques

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2009) − An Italian historian will present research he has performed in Harlan County, Ky., and discuss ways to avoid cultural pitfalls when conducting oral history interviews during an Oct. 12 workshop sponsored by the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center.

Alessandro Portelli, co-manager of Rome's House of History and Memory and professor of American literature at the University of Rome-La Sapienza will present "How-to From the Master: Doing Oral History from a Cross-Cultural Perspective" at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in the Niles Gallery of the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library.

Portelli has been described as one of the world's most influential and exciting oral historians. He has more than 20 years' experience gathering oral histories in Appalachia.

He also serves as director of the Appalachian Center's "Rome Exchange" at La Sapienza, a scholarly exchange program between UK and the University of Rome.

The registration fee for the event, which is open to the public, is $30. The event, co-sponsored by the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, is free to UK faculty, staff and students. Organizers request that attendees pre-register at www.appalachiancenter.org because space is limited.