The International Oral History Association (IOHA) is a professional association established to provide a forum for oral historians around the world. IOHA was formally constituted in June 1996 at the IXth International Oral History Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. It holds international meetings biennially and publishes a newsletter and journal, Words and Silences/Palabras y Silen, in English and Spanish.
In 2019, the book Giving a voice to the Oppressed? The International Oral History Association as an academic network and political movement edited by Agnès Arp, Annette Leo and Franka Maubach was published, tracing the early history of IOHA.
IOHA Presidents & Vice-Presidents
(Spain), 1996–2000; Vice-Presidents Marieta de Moraes Ferreira (Brazil), Alistair Thomson (UK / Australia) Marieta de Moraes Ferreira (Brazil), 2000–2002; Vice-Presidents Janis Wilton (Australia), Gunhan Danisman (Turquía) Janis Wilton (Australia), 2002–2004; Vice-Presidents Rina Benmayor (Estados Unidos), Gerardo Necoechea (México) Rina Benmayor (USA), 2004–2006; Vice-Presidents Funso Afolayan (Nigeria), Gerardo Necoechea (México) Al Thomson (UK / Australia), 2006–2008; Vice-Presidents Pilar Domínguez (Spain), Alexander von Plato (Germany) Pilar Domínguez (Spain), 2008–2010; Vice-Presidents Antonio Montenegro (Brazil), Sean Field (South Africa) Miroslav Vanek (Czech Republic), 2010–2012; Vice-Presidents Juan Gutiérrez (México/Estados Unidos), Miren Llona (Spain) Anna Maria De La O (Mexico), 2012–2014; Vice-Presidents Andrea Casa Nova Maia (Brazil), Helen Klaebe (Australia) Indira Chowdhury (India), 2014–2016; Vice-Presidents David Beorlegui (Spain), Mark A. Cave (USA) Mark A. Cave (USA), 2016–2018; Vice-Presidents Avehi Menon (India), David Beorlegui (Spain) Sue Anderson (Australia), 2018–2021; Vice-Presidents Mark Wong (Singapore), Outi Fingerroos (Finland) David Beorlegui (Spain), 2021-2023; Vice-Presidents Mark Wong (Singapore), Martha Norkunas (USA) David Beorlegui (Spain), 2023-2025; Vice-Presidents Tian Miao (China), Leslie McCartney (USA) Mark Wong (Singapore), 2025 - 2028, Vice-Presidents Tian Miao (China), Jakub Gałęziowski (Poland)
International Oral History Conferences
Conference No. Location Dates ThemeIBologna, Italy1976Tra storia e antropologia / Between Anthropology and HistoryIIColchester, England1978International European Conference in Oral HistoryIIIAmsterdam, Netherlands1980International Oral History ConferenceIVAix-en-Provence, France1982Colloque international d'histoire oraleVBarcelona, Spain1985El poder a la societat / El poder en la SociedadVIOxford, England1987Myth and HistoryVIIEssen, Germany1990Gedächtnis und sozialer WandelVIIISiena, Italy1993Memory and Multiculturalism / Memoria emulticulturalismo IX* Gothenburg, Sweden 13–16 Jun 1996 Communicating Experience X Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 14–18 Jun 1998 Oral History: Challenges for the 21st Century XI Istanbul, Turkey 15–19 Jun 2000 Crossroads of History: Experience, Memory, Orality XII Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 24–27 Jun 2002 The Power of Oral History: Memory, Healing and Development XIII Rome, Italy 23–26 Jun 2004 Memory and Globalization XIV Sydney, Australia 12–16 Jul 2006 Dancing with Memory: Oral History and its Audiences XV Guadalajara, Mexico 23–26 Sep 2008 Oral History - A Dialogue with our Times XVI Prague, Czech Republic 7–11 Jul 2010 Between Past and Future: Oral History, Memory and Meaning XVII Buenos Aires, Argentina 3–7 Sep 2012 The Challenges of Oral History in the 21st Century: Diversity, Inequality and Identity Construction XVIII Barcelona, Spain 9–12 Jul 2014 Power and Democracy: The Many Voices of Oral History XIX Bengaluru, India 27 Jun – 1 Jul 2016 Speaking, Listening, Interpreting: The Critical Engagements of Oral History XX Jyväskylä, Finland 18–21 Jun 2018 Memory and Narration XXI Singapore (virtual conference) 23–27 Aug 2021 Harmony & Disharmony: Bringing Together Many Voices XXII Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 25–28 Jul 2023 Oral History in a Digital and Audiovisual World XXIII Kraków, Poland 16–19 Sep 2025 Re-Thinking Oral History
References
External links IOHA website IOHA 2014 Barcelona, Spain conference website IOHA 2016 Bengaluru, India conference website IOHA 2018 Jyväskylä, Finland conference website IOHA 2021 Singapore conference website Giving a voice to the Oppressed? The International Oral History Association as an academic network and political movement publication website