A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : "What did you do in the war, Grandma?" Brown University: "An Oral History of Rhode Island Women During World War II" This oral history project website presents a valuable overview essay of American women who participated in the war effort during the Second World War (http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WWII_Women/WomenInWWII.html), and makes available interesting interviews with and photographs of women who worked in various ways for the defeat of the Axis powers. (Secondary source material with links to primary source material such as interviews and photographs). Before reading the interview transcripts, the class can discuss unique nature of oral histories as a resource. What are the strengths or oral histories? The weaknesses? How does the interviewer affect the way the interviewee answers? Finally, what do the students expect to hear the "grandmas" talk about regarding their war experience? Students can create an interview protocol, using the interview transcripts available on the website, so that they can conduct interviews with women who lived through WWII (their grandmother, neighbor, etc.). After everyone has completed their interview, the students can put together a website or a booklet made up of the interview transcripts and photographs (if possible).

"What did you do in the war, Grandma?"
Brown University: An Oral History of Rhode Island Women During World War II

Description: This oral history project website presents a valuable overview essay of American women who participated in the war effort during the Second World War (http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WWII_Women/WomenInWWII.html), and makes available interesting interviews with and photographs of women who worked in various ways for the defeat of the Axis powers. (Secondary source material with links to primary source material such as interviews and photographs).

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

Before reading the interview transcripts, the class can discuss unique nature of oral histories as a resource. What are the strengths or oral histories? The weaknesses? How does the interviewer affect the way the interviewee answers? Finally, what do the students expect to hear the "grandmas" talk about regarding their war experience?

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Students can create an interview protocol, using the interview transcripts available on the website, so that they can conduct interviews with women who lived through WWII (their grandmother, neighbor, etc.). After everyone has completed their interview, the students can put together a website or a booklet made up of the interview transcripts and photographs (if possible).