This morning on 2SER breakfast, Tim and I talked about oral history in anticipation of today's launch of the City of Sydney's Sydney Oral Histories website. Oral histories are a great primary source of information about our past. They offer first hand accounts of every day life, describing people's observations and experiences with an immediacy that is highly engaging. The pioneer of oral history is Hazel de Berg, a Sydney woman who recorded hundreds of voices and memories of Australians born between 1865 and 1956 over a thirty year period. Hazel's collection is in the National Library of Australia. The Dictionary's collection of oral histories includes an interview with 88 year old Rita who recalls life in Leichhardt in the 1930s. Rita talks about Norton Street once being a graveyard, paved over after the headstones were removed.* Other fascinating stories on the Dictionary include first hand accounts of working as a Sydney tram conductress, a labourer who transported circus elephants around Sydney in the 1950s, memories of the first mardi gras parade and delivering Meals on Wheels to Rosaleen Norton, the 'witch queen' of Kings Cross. Sydney Oral Histories (www.sydneyoralhistories.com.au) will be launched tonight in the Barnet Long Room at Customs House at 6pm. The website is divided into places, beliefs, encounters with the natural environment, art and culture, shelter, work, commerce and industry. It's fascinating listening and easy to browse with short excerpts accompanied by full sound recordings and written transcripts to download. The website has been many years in the making. Our congratulations go to Dr Margo Beasley, the Oral Historian at the City of Sydney, and the History Unit for bringing making these oral histories available to everyone. * Rita is referring to Balmain Cemetery, near the northern end of Norton St, which is now known as Pioneers Park