Third international conference: Oral History: Dialogue with Society (2012)

The conference was devoted to the methodologies of biographical, life narrative, and oral history research, with particular attention to public involvement in the research process – from the gathering of sources to the dissemination of results. Topics for presentations included research ethics, the connection of oral history to topical and socially sensitive issues and cultural values, as well as innovative forms of publications and projects for public audiences.
Such countries as Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom, Germany and Lapland were represented in the conference.
Supported by the Baltic-German University Liaison Office also Dr. Thomas Loer took part in this conference and gave a lecture about a genre of social science data between advances of scientific knowledge and practical empowerment, and how objective hermeneutics can serve both.
Programme and abstracts
Photos from the conference
Video recordings from the conference

Session Oral History: Life Story and self-assurance in the Joint 3rd World Congress of Latvian Scientists and the 4th Congress of Latvian Studies Science, society and National Identity, Riga, Latvia, 24-25.10.2011.

The main discussion theme of the oral history session was the research of national identity and national self-assurance, based on life stories. At the beginning of the 21st Century, the Club Hall of the Riga Latvian Society turned out to be a very appropriate place for continuing the discussions on the problematic issues of the Latvian and Latvian nation’s identity, which started at the end of the 19th Century.  Eleven papers were presented to the audience, consisting of approximately 35 people. In the cooperation with Slītere National Park, a new book, “Livonians in Northern Kurzeme” (author: Māra Zirnīte), was opened in the conclusion of the session.

Second international conference: Oral History: Migration and Local Identities (2008)

50 participants from nine countries took part in this conference, hosted by the Latvian National Oral History Project, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, University of Latvia in cooperation with the Association of Oral History Researchers of Latvia “Dzivesstasts” and Nordic Network Project “Oral History and Biography as Resources for Local and Cross-cultural Studies”.
Migration, whether collective, individual, voluntary, or involuntary, has been a significant aspect of Latvian historical experience and worldwide. Migration creates a watershed between life as hitherto lived and the new life. Migration affects tradition, life-style, identities and sets up a mutual exchange in customs and behaviour between the host community and the immigrants. The identity of the new country shapes the new immigrants even as they shape the new country.
The focus of the conference is oral history research, life-histories and biographies through which we gained insight into the collective and individual consequences of migration.
On the bases of the research presented at the conference a collection of articles entitled Oral History: Migration and Local Identities was published in 2011 comprising 18 articles, the authors representing six states.
Programme and abstracts
Conference photos

First international conference: Life Stories: History, Culture, Society (2003)

The conference was organized in cooperation with oral history researchers from eight states and Latvian volunteers of Life Story researchers in the United States. The aim of the conference was to communicate about the methodology of oral history research and to become acknowledged with the diversity of using oral history sources. Such themes as political and social history, ecology, social problems and culture, migration, folklore, sociology of emotions, as well as the using of OH sources in the presentations and educational programmes of museums was presented by the speakers of the conference.