News

The works of the Expert Commission, that is a body of specialists in the field of standards of oral history metadata, which was operating within the framework of project “Narratio. The Digital Repository of Oral History”, has been concluded. The last meeting took place at the Museum of Polish History and closed the many-month stage of works on working out common principles of describing and making accessible accounts of witnesses of history.

Oral history covers thousands of recordings stored in museums, archives, libraries and social organizations which are located all over Poland. The materials have been collected independently for years, each institution being bound to work out their own manner of ordering and describing them. Project “Narratio” was meant to combine the individual experience and create common standards of metadata, which will facilitate searching, making available and long-term securing of all these invaluable testimonies.

Representatives of our Museum actively participated in the works of the Commission, contributing our experience in the field, which results from the many years’ work on documenting and elaborating on accounts of witnesses of history. A vital role in the project was played by the Museum Archive that for years now has been collecting, securing and elaborating recordings of witnesses – persons whose accounts allow understanding experiences of war, captivity, repressions and everyday life in the 20^th century in a fuller and more objective way. The experience of the team of archivists and historians of our Museum made a significant contribution to the works on the standards which – in the future – will make it easier to elaborate on and make accessible similar collections in the relevant institutions in Poland.

The effect of the works of the Commission has been a set of recommendations concerning standards of describing accounts which pertain to oral history. Their implementation will allow institutions to more effectively manage their digital collections, while all interested in history will be able to find and make use of the recorded testimonies in a much easier way.

Project “Narratio. The Digital Repository of Oral History” is realized as part of the FERC.02.03 “Digital accessibility and reusage of information” within the program of European Funds for Digital Development 2021–2027, co-financed with the means of European Regional Development Fund.