04/22/2026
Athol and Orange teens! Do you want to make history?
Join us this summer for an opportunity to record local history interview with a unique local elder. The Athol/Orange Oral History course and first interviews will take place for the first time this July!
This course will introduce the methodologies of oral history. Students will develop skills to research and write compelling questions, build rapport with narrators, and perform oral history interviews. Students will also learn to operate AOTV's professional video cameras and audio recording equipment. At the end of the course, each student will interview a local narrator identified by the Orange or Athol Council on Aging. Students will also operate video/audio to record an oral history interview conducted by a classmate. Enrollment cap is 10 students.
The course is accredited by Athol Royalston Regional School at 0.25 elective credits, and Ralph C. Mahar at 2.5 co-op credits.
The course is taught by Liz Walber, trained Oral Historian and Development Coordinator at AOTV. Liz will schedule the space and times and be present for all interviews.
– [email protected]
Emily Verock-Isrow will be a Teachers Assistant onsite for the class and interviews.
Technical training will be taught by Jake Movsessian, Production Manager at AOTV
– [email protected]
3 Sessions in July 2026 – 3x 4 hours – break in the middle
Conducting one interview as the historian – 2-4 hours
Providing tech for one interview – 2-4 hours
Homework (reviewing materials, preparing interview questions) – 2-3 hours
Total course time: 18-23 hours
Class Dates
Monday, July 20th, Wednesday, July 22nd, Friday, July 24th
1PM-5PM
90 - 150 minute interviews to be scheduled the week of July 27 between 10AM-4PM
Fill out our form to sign up, or email [email protected] with questions. You can also call AOTV at 978-249-4470
https://www.aotv13.org/athol-orange-oral-history-student-survey/
This project is graciously funded by an Age & Dementia Friendly Communities grant from LifePath, and organized in collaboration with the Athol and Orange Councils on Aging and the Athol Senior Center, and the Athol and Orange Historical Societies.
Learn more about Oral History from https://oralhistory.org/about/do-oral-history/
