Life IN PARTNERSHIP NATIONAL stories WITH Life NATIONAL stories Review and Accounts Contact us Online catalogue access National Life Stories www.cadensa.bl.uk 2011/2012 The British Library 96 Euston Road Listen to the collection at the British Library London NW1 2DB Contact our Listening and Viewing Service: T +44 (0)20 7412 7404 T +44 (0)20 7412 7418
[email protected] [email protected] www.bl.uk/nls www.bl.uk/listening Listen online http://sounds.bl.uk National Life Stories Chairman’s When many people think about history, they think about oral history fieldwork. For twenty-five years it has initiated a Foreword books and documents, castles or stately homes. In fact series of innovative interviewing programmes funded almost history is all around us, in our own families and communities, entirely from sponsorship, charitable and individual donations in the living memories and experiences of older people. and voluntary effort. Everyone has a story to tell about their life which is unique to them. Whilst some people have been involved in Each collection comprises recorded in-depth interviews of momentous historical events, regardless of age or a high standard, plus content summaries and transcripts to importance we all have interesting life stories to share. assist users. Access is provided via the Sound and Moving Unfortunately, because memories die when people do, if Image Catalogue at www.cadensa.bl.uk and a growing we don’t record what people tell us, that history can be number of interviews are made available for remote web lost forever. use. Each individual life story interview is several hours long, covering family background, childhood, education, work, National Life Stories was established in 1987 and its mission leisure and later life.