This informal gathering is a space for independent oral history workers — freelancers, contractors, part-timers, and others working in temporary or nuanced roles outside of traditional institutions — to connect, share resources, and talk shop. Bring a business card, a flyer for your project, or just a willingness to chat. Whether you’re mid-career or just starting out, this is a chance to meet others navigating the complex, joyful, and often precarious paths of maintaining a career in oral history.

This event reimagines the “Independent Practitioners” meet-ups from previous Oral History Association meetings with a new focus: not just who we are and what we do, but how we do the work, how we find work, and how we sustain ourselves. Come to mingle, vent, swap contact info, and feel validated! This is a space to talk frankly about the work of the work.

Location: Oral History Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA