Get involved in an oral history programme from ITP & Connected Earth…
The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) is a partner of Connected Earth, the telecommunications heritage initiative founded by BT. Connected Earth preserves documentary and artefact telecommunications material, physically dispersed between eleven partners and united online at www.connected-earth.com.
To bring the artefacts and formal documents to life, ITP and Connected Earth are planning a nationwide oral history programme through audio interviews revealing what it is really like to work in telecommunications, the impact of telecommunications on our home and working lives, and our expectations of communications technologies past, present and future.
We want to capture memories of telecommunications transformations such as the development of System X, the modernisation of the network, the roll-out of broadband and much more, before this knowledge is lost.
The programme is supported by BT’s Committee for Responsible and Sustainable Business and additionally funding is being sought from the Heritage Lottery fund.
Why oral history?
Oral history lets people tell their story in their own words, and in their own voices. Individuals’ stories complement the formal corporate records and add colour to the artefacts of the Connected Earth dispersed collection.
It further provides a way of describing aspects of history where little or no physical records or artefacts exist, and whose story therefore risk being lost. This is particularly relevant to the fast changing technologies of telecommunications history.
Preserving the histories as audio files, rather than written documents, means that the history of telecommunications can be heard in galleries, on websites and at special events as well as in the more traditional research environment of BT Archives where the collection will be preserved.
And importantly oral history is a fun and social way to meet people, make your mark on history and learn new skills.
How can I get involved?
Talking Telecoms is planned to start in autumn 2008.
ITP is looking to build up a network of heritage activists throughout the UK to be trained as volunteer interviewers.
If you are interested in taking part, providing feedback or require further information please contact Martin Ingram - ITP Regional Manger
email: martin_john_Ingram@yahoo.co.uk
phone: 0777 199 5029.
