National Council on Public History

PROPOSAL TYPE

Roundtable

SEEKING

• Seeking Additional Presenters
• Seeking General Feedback and Interest

RELATED TOPICS

• Oral History
• Memory
• Social Justice

ABSTRACT

I have an individual presentation and would like to be part of an oral history roundtable exploring the importance of oral history in elucidating and preserving marginalized historical narratives, as well as the role of oral history in healing from trauma. My presentation would feature video and audio excerpts from the oral history of an Afro-Caribbean survivor of a Nazi concentration camp. Citing research on both trauma theory and oral history, the discussion might focus on how trauma intersects with silence and how subjects can be encouraged to share their experiences through oral history.

DESCRIPTION

With the oral history of an Afro-Caribbean civilian in the Nazi era as an example, my part of the session explores an area shared by trauma and silence and how oral history can contribute to healing from trauma. Many oppressed groups experience trauma, but trauma victims often remain silent about their experience for years, if not forever.

Such was the case of Lionel Romney, an Afro-Caribbean civilian who became a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.  He was one of the few Black people to survive the Nazi camp system.  As a prisoner in the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, Romney was subjected to inhumane treatment and routinely witnessed atrocities that traumatized him so deeply that he was virtually silent about the experience for over four decades. In his twilight years, he finally spoke about it in an extensive oral history recorded by the presenter. Audio and video excerpts from these recordings are included in this presentation.

Once Romney embarked on his oral history, he spoke about his wartime experience for the rest of his life. His extensive oral history provides a broader, deeper, more diverse and inclusive understanding of the Nazi era, as well as the African diaspora in World War II.

Present efforts to limit public discourse on diverse and inclusive history and to eradicate the teaching of challenging episodes in history further marginalize already oppressed groups. For communities whose history has largely been misrepresented, ignored, or erased by the mainstream, opportunities to recover and learn that history are largely absent, especially from the educational system. In many cases, oral history may be one of the few resources that provide access to areas of history that have been obscured. However, some subjects are reluctant to speak about historical events they have witnessed, especially if they have been traumatized or experienced challenging historical episodes, such as wars, terrorism, natural disasters, civil unrest, political violence, or religious conflicts, etc. Given the pivotal role of oral history and its healing powers, vis-a-vis the silence of some eyewitnesses, a question emerges: how can reluctant subjects be encouraged to speak about history they have witnessed?

Referring to research on both trauma theory and oral history, the presenter discusses how Romney’s case exemplifies the value of oral history not only in elucidating unknown or little-known areas of history, but also in healing from trauma. The presenter encourages the audience to provide examples of their experiences and challenges with oral history and discuss this central question: What could encourage eyewitnesses to speak about their history?

Further questions for discussion may also be:

• What is the nature and value of oral history?
• Is oral history valuable in elucidating history?
• Why do some trauma victims emerge from their silence?
• Can oral history contribute to healing from trauma? If so, how?
• Why encourage elders to speak about family history and experiences that they have been silent about?
• How can you approach elders who are reluctant?

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly:
Mary Louise Romney Schaab, University of Connecticut, retired, [email protected]

All feedback and offers of assistance should be sent by June 5, 2026. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.

Discussion