We learn the facts about any historical time by study and research. The written history of mankind is filled with documents books, letters, diaries, legal papers, church documents, business papers, census records.
History is interesting when it focuses on human beings.
The gathering of conversations, songs, legends, speeches and interviews is the purpose of oral history. A tape recorder, an interviewer, an interviewee and a topic of conversation provide the setting for oral history. When we study history we are trying to imagine ourselves in times past. We can't talk to people who lived during these times, but we can talk to our parents, grandparents and our great-grandparents. The people we meet everyday are not likely to have written an article for a magazine or paper, let alone a book.