Abstract
Reminiscence work and oral history are different and both are valid and valuable. It is possible to engage in reminiscence as a validating experience for an individual whilst enriching historical knowledge with details from old people’s stories. It is important however to understand the difference between the two. Reminiscence work concerns itself primarily with the social and personal benefits for the individuals concerned and not with the documenting of history. Oral history is primarily concerned with the individual’s oral contribution to documenting history. However, reminiscence, even with people with limited communication skills and little or no short-term memory, can produce a treasure-house of information and insights. Some of these may be of sufficient general interest to make a contribution to the recording of the past, although this is not usually the case.
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© 1994 Clare Gillies and Anne James
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Gillies, C., James, A. (1994). Reminiscence work and oral history. In: Reminiscence Work with Old People. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2985-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2985-3_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-58070-3
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