Publications
Publication details [#50902]
Gunnemark, Kerstin. 2009. Memorable belongings. In Kurkowska-Budzan, Marta and Krzysztof Zamorski, eds. Oral History. The challenges of dialogue. (Studies in Narrative 10). John Benjamins. pp. 27–34.
Publication type
Article in book
Publication language
English
Place, Publisher
John Benjamins
Annotation
The aim of this article is to present a methodology which highlights the necessity of integration between oral history and artefact collection. Memory Closets are evaluated to give opportunities for dialogues in geriatric care and schools. In the creation process of the closets employees and volunteers were invited to workshops with emphasis on autobiographies, elderly people were interviewed, and pupils wrote essays. Even if many people are not used to talking about materiality, everyone finds it enjoyable when they understand how selected things can awaken memories of their own, their cultural heritage. The dialogues around the Memory Closets, when the past can be used in the present, support their quality of life for the elderly as well as younger persons.