FOHN – Finnish Oral History Network
FOHN – Finnish Oral History Network provides a forum for oral history, memory studies and life storying scholars in Finland. The network arranges national and international seminars and symposiums in order to foster scholarly communication and collaboration. FOHN strives to foster a better understanding of the nature and value of oral history and memory-based knowledge in the scientific community as well as society.
FOHN is a member of the International Oral History Association (IOHA).
In 2020, after almost two decades as an informal network, the Finnish Oral History Network, FOHN registered as a Finnish non-profit association.
Contact us
The Finnish Literature Society (SKS)
Finnish Oral History Network – FOHN
PL 259, 00171 Helsinki, Finland
Chair Hannah Yoken, hannah.k.yoken[a]jyu.fi
Secretary Riikka Taavetti, riikka.taavetti[a]utu.fi
Publications
Muistitietotutkimuksen paikka. Teoriat, käytännöt ja muutos. 2022. Eds. Ulla Savolainen ja Riikka Taavetti. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura.
Oral History 2/2016 presents Nordic-Baltic oral history research.
Oral History. Autumn 2016, Volume 44, N:o 2. Nordic-Baltic special issue. Eds. Anne Heimo, Anna-Kaisa Kuusisto-Arponen and Ulla Savolainen.
Suomen Antropologi Volume 32 Number 4 Winter 2007
Special Issue: Memory and Narration. Oral History research in the Northern European Context
Eds. Ulla-Maija Peltonen and Kirsti Salmi-Niklander.
Muistitietotutkimus. Metodologisia kysymyksiä. 2006. Eds. Outi Fingerroos, Riina Haanpää, Anne Heimo ja Ulla-Maija Peltonen. Tietolipas 214. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura.
Elore 13. 1/2006 Theme number: The Oral History Network in the Nordic and Baltic Context
Eds. Outi Fingeroos, Anne Heimo, Elina Makkonen, Jyrki Pöysä and Taina Ukkonen.
FOHN Board
The Board plans and coordinates FOHN’s activities and collaborates with Finnish and international oral history, memory studies, and life storying projects.
Board Members:
Chair: Hannah Yoken, University of Jyväskylä
Wiivi-Maria Jouttijärvi, University of Oulu
Maiju Korte, Finnish Literature Society SKS
Liisa Lalu, University of Turku
Tuire Liimatainen, Migration Institute of Finland
Antti Malinen, University of Tampere
Pete Pesonen, University of Turku / Finnish Labour Archives (Työväenarkisto)
Bradley Reynolds, University of Turku
Meeri Siukonen, University of Helsinki
Alternate Board Members:
Anne Heimo, University of Turku
Essi Jouhki, University of Turku Jyväskylä
Samira Saramo, Migration Institute of Finland
Ulla Savolainen, University of Helsinki
Riikka Taavetti, University of Turku
Seminars on Oral History Research
Future seminars and conferences
FOHN’s past seminars and conferences
28.–29.11.2024, Jyväskylä
The 9th International FOHN symposium
1.–2.12.2022 Helsinki
AFTER: Time, Place & (Dis)Connections in Oral History & Life Storying
The 8th International FOHN symposium.
26.–27.11.2020 Helsinki
POWER, AUTHORITY AND VOICE: CRITICAL REFLECTIONS IN/ON ORAL HISTORY
The symposium was organized by FOHN together with the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Arts, and the Finnish Literature Society, and was sponsored by Kansan Sivistysrahasto.
Invited speakers Urvashi Butalia (Delhi, India), Jonna Katto (Ghent University), Riikka Taavetti (University of Helsinki) ja Erin Jessee (University of Glasgow)
18.–21.6.2018 Jyväskylä
IOHA 2018 – MEMORY & NARRATION
The theme of the XX International Oral History Association Congress was Memory and Narration. The conference focuses on the complex and multidimensional nature of oral history as a source material, object of research and methodology.
24.-25.11.2016 Helsinki
FRAGILE MEMORIES: DOING ORAL HISTORY WITH VULNERABLE NARRATORS
FOHN, the Finnish Literature Society (SKS) in collaboration with the Academy of Finland. The symposium aims to bring together scholars of oral history and life writing to discuss vulnerability.
Invited speakers include Sean Field (University of Cape Town), Malin Thor Tureby (University of Linköping), Anna-Kaisa Kuusisto-Arponen (University of Tampere) and Ulla Savolainen (University of Helsinki).
27.-28.11.2014 Helsinki
TRAVELLING MEMORIES: LIVES IN TRANSITION
FOHN, Finnish Literature Society (SKS), research projects Reuniting the family. A study of the experiences of immigrants and officials (Academy of Finland), Transcultural memories of childhood (Academy of Finland), Cultural Meanings and Vernacular Genres (Folklore Studies, University of Helsinki)and In Search of Transcultural Memory in Europe (Cost Action).
The keynote speakers include Baiba Bela (University of Latvia), Graham Smith (University of London), and Outi Fingerroos (University of Jyväskylä).
29.–30.11.2012 Helsinki
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC MEMORIES
FOHN, the Finnish Literature Society (SKS) and the Academy of Finland project Strangers from the East – Narratives of Karelian Exiles and Return Migrants from Russia.
The keynote speakers include Paula Hamilton (Australian Centre for Public History, University of Technology Sydney), Daniela Koleva (Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski), Kirsti Salmi-Niklander (University of Helsinki) and Vieda Skultans (University of Bristol).
2.–3.12.2010 Helsinki
ORAL HISTORY AND FIELDWORK
FOHN, Finnish Literature Society (SKS) and the Academy of Finland project Strangers from the East – Narratives of Karelian Exiles and Return Migrants from Russia.
The keynote speakers Molly Andrews (University of East London, UK), Selma Leydesdorff (University of Amsterdam, Netherlands), and Anne Heimo (University of Turku).
3.–4.12.2008 Helsinki
ORAL HISTORY AND ETHICS
FOHN, Finnish Literature Society (SKS), and the Academy of Finland project The Invention of Heroes – Creation and Use of Oral and Written Representations of History, University of Helsinki, Institute for Cultural Research, Folklore Studies and Graduate School of Cultural Interpretation.
The keynote speakers Robert Perks (British Library, UK), Arja Kuula (University of Tampere, Finland), Ulla-Maija Peltonen (Finnish Literature Society, Finland).
2006 Helsinki
MEMORY AND NARRATION. ORAL HISTORY RESEARCH IN THE NORTHERN EUROPEAN CONTEXT
Finnish Literature Society (SKS) University of Helsinki, Institute for Cultural Research, Folklore Studies. Key note speakers Ronald Grele (Columbia University, USA), Joanna Bornat (Open University, UK).
2004 Turku
METHODOLOGICAL CHOICES OF ORAL HISTORY
Finnish Literature Society (SKS), School of Cultural Research of the University of Turku.
The keynote speakers Alessandro Portelli (University of Rome, Italy), Vieda Skultans (Bristol University, UK).
2002 Helsinki
ORAL HISTORY – THE CHALLENGES OF METHODOLOGY
Finnish Literature Society (SKS). The keynote speakers Alessandro Portelli (University of Rome, Italy), Jorma Kalela (University of Turku, Finland), Ulla-Maija Peltonen (University of Helsinki, Finland).
Links
COHA – Czech Oral History Association
COST action (IS1203) In search of transcultural memory in Europe
ESSHC – European Social Science History Conference, Oral History and Life Stories Network
H-Oralhist – A network for scholars and professionals active in studies related to oral history
IOHA – International Oral History Association
ISFNR – The International Society for Folk Narrative Research
Memoar – norsk organisasjon for munnleg historie (Norway)
National Oral History project, Latvia
OHDA – Oral History in the Digital Age
OHIS – Oral History in Sweden
Oral History Association (US)
The Oral History Noticeboard
Oral History Society (UK)
SIEF – International Society for Ethnology and Folklore
Ühendus Eesti Elulood – Estonian Life Stories Association