Sue has worked with many wonderful people and organisations over the years - see what they say about her, or contact us to add your own testimonial!
Oral History Research & Training Consultancy
Oral history heritage professionals serving Scotland and the UK
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Glasgow African Arts Centre
'Glasgow's African Tales'
Dr Sue is a miracle worker! She is inspirational! She works very hard, sometimes through the night, to help us get things done on time.
Dr Sue tackles all problems with ease and with huge smiles!
We are delighted that she has helped us to create a fantastic oral history of African cultures and traditions.
Chief Gift Kofi Amu Logotse
Email: mramuculture@aol.com
Isaro Social Integration Network
'Everyday People: Untold Stories'
We are very grateful for the support we have received from Dr Sue Morrison during the implementation of our oral history project. Dr Sue has helped the project to put together oral history records, to produce exhibitions material, and she designed and produced content for our oral history website page, and wrote and produced the wonderful project related films. Dr Sue went extra miles to ensure that our project is successfully completed. She is a wonderful consultant to work with, not only a high level professional but also a people‘s person who easily builds rapport with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Rose Sehakizinka
Project officer
Isaro Social Integration Network
Web: http://isaronetwork.org.uk
John Gray Centre, Haddington
Oral History Projects
"A big thankyou Sue for coming to Haddington and providing the Archive & Local History team and our volunteers with oral history training. We started actively recording and collecting oral histories last year for a village history project and a schooldays exhibition. We are also in the process of digitising some 300 interviews prior to transcription.
Your advice and guidance has made our project seem a whole lot more manageable, especially your guidance on summaries and transcription. We got so much more than we had asked you to cover at the training which was hugely enjoyable. We will be able to improve all our practices immediately as a result - thanks from us all".
Ruth Fyfe
John Gray Centre
website http://www.johngraycentre.org
Securing the Memories of Gairloch Parish
"Our thanks to Sue for an enjoyable day’s oral history training. Covering everything from planning, taking and transcribing an interview to using the audio files, Sue’s training was relevant and interesting to both the seasoned interviewers and complete novices in attendance. After an entertaining day, we left not only with a much clearer idea of what was needed but also with a renewed sense of excitement and enthusiasm for talking to people and recording their memories. Thanks again!"
Rosalyn Goulding
Project Curator
Gairloch Heritage Museum
'CELEBRATE: LGBT Cumbria'
"Sue has been very supportive and extremely helpful ever since our first contact. The training with her was very informative, interactive and well-tailored to the need of the projects and our volunteers – giving them great confidence before they start working on their first oral history project. Sue has also provided great advice before the training session and continued support for the volunteers after the training. We couldn’t recommend her more."
Tonia Lu
Project Manager
OutREACH Cumbria
'Jeely Jars and Seeing Stars', Glasgow Film
"I worked with Dr Sue Morrison while creating Glasgow Film's Cinema Oral History Project between early 2013 and March 2015.
Sue was very supportive of our project from the early stages and was always happy to chat and offer advice and measured opinions on the project. With her support we were able to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to bring the project to life, and we utilised her services at the Scottish Oral History Centre to help us train and prepare our volunteers for oral history gathering. The training was very comprehensive and useful. We would recommend it to anyone undertaking a similar project.
From day one, I thoroughly appreciated Sue's kind and generous manner. Her expertise in the field of oral history are a real asset. She is very passionate about the subject and always ready to lend an ear. It has been a pleasure to get to know Sue and work with her on this project.
We wish Sue every success in her future endeavours."
Corinne Orton
Festival Producer
Dumbarton Academy
“The training in oral history collection that Dr Morrison delivered was just at the right level for my S2 class. Throughout it they were engaged, highly motivated and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. After the training they gained confidence interviewing each other and then put their skills to good use interviewing residents in a local care home about their superstitions and memories of local witch trials. It was a pleasure to see how different pupils engaged with the task and interacted with both each other and care residents.
Both the pupils and I hope to work with Dr Morrison on a future British Council project looking at the industrial heritage of both West Dunbartonshire and India”.
Dr Amanda Moody
English Department
Scottish Opera: 'Theatre Royal Glasgow Oral History Project'
“Sue was an absolute pleasure to work with as a consultant during the 'Theatre Royal Glasgow Oral History Project'. Her professionalism, kind manner, extensive knowledge and passion for oral history was clear throughout her involvement with the project. Sue’s comprehensive advice on planning the project and recruiting suitable Oral History Assistants was crucial in ensuring the project’s success. Her training, delivered through the Scottish Oral History Centre, covered all aspects of oral history and filled our Oral History Assistants and staff with the skills and confidence to succeed with the project, coordinating and recording over 100 interviews. It was reassuring to know that Sue would always be able to answer promptly any questions if we encountered any areas of the project we were unsure of. I cannot recommend Sue as an Oral History Consultant highly enough and am grateful to have been able to work with her.”
Tess Forbes-McMurchie
Heritage Engagement
Scottish Opera
'East Dunbartonshire’s War: First World War Oral History Project'
“We were delighted to work with Sue to develop a training programme for secondary school students and others as part of a First World War oral history project. Among many other things, Sue taught the students how to phrase questions, approach interviews sympathetically and keep necessary records. Sue’s friendly and approachable manner put all the students at ease and she formed a great rapport with them during the sessions. She created an atmosphere of trust and comfort in which all were encouraged to participate. After the training the students were full of praise for her. Her great passion for oral history shone through in the training and she conveyed how truly meaningful the making of the oral history was. We would love to work with Sue again.”
Anne Kennedy
Outreach/Access Officer
East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust
'An Oral History of Paisley’s Thread Mills'
"We were delighted when, six months into the venture, Dr Sue Morrison accepted our invitation to manage the 'Paisley Thread Mills' project. The Steering Committee would like to place on record their deepest gratitude to Sue, who revived, revitalised, and successfully completed the project, within budget and within only eight months. We had earlier experienced serious difficulties and delays, and Sue worked tirelessly to complete the project on time. It is clear that Dr Morrison made an outstanding contribution to the project and had an enormously positive impact on everyone involved. Her ingenuity, determination, hard work and good humour were very much appreciated. We would wholeheartedly and unequivocally recommend Sue to anyone wanting to work with a first class professional historian and manager, and we hope to work with her again in the near future."
Steering Committee
Paisley People's Archive
National Youth Theatre: 'Easterhouse Oral History Project'
“I was employed by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain as project manager and writer on the Easterhouse Oral History Project. I contracted Sue Morrison to train the young people in how to collect and summarise oral histories. Sue developed an instant rapport with the young people. Her training session was extremely well presented, engaging and thoughtful. Her advice on how to compile questions and how to ask them, and her insights into the ethics of taking oral histories and how to get the best out of a respondent was invaluable. I was very proud to see the young people using the techniques she taught them when doing their own interviews.
Sue made herself available to me throughout the project giving advice when asked and she attended the performances both at the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village and at Platform later in the year. She is an excellent and inspiring teacher and her enthusiasm and commitment to oral histories is evident throughout her work.”
Alison Irvine
Project Manager/ Author
National Youth Theatre
Film maker, Rubikon Pictures
“I have worked with Sue on three projects to date; one as a volunteer interviewer, two more providing filmed content. I have witnessed her dealing with some demanding situations in that time. Sue combines an assertive, proactive approach with a pleasant manner that inspires confidence. She handles workshops, meetings and presentations with ease. She has good organisational skills and respects schedules and deadlines. Dealing with volunteers can be problematic if the initial enthusiasm wanes. She understands this and oversees with skill and pragmatism. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sue and very much look forward to working with her again.”
Tim Mitchell
Rubikon Pictures
Oral History Project Volunteer
“I was a volunteer on 'The Govanhill People's History Project', which was led by Dr Sue Morrison. I have had a long standing interest in social history and Dr Morrison's passion for her subject, and the professionalism of the delivery of her oral history training, has ignited that interest beyond measure. I have gone on to work on similar projects as a result. Dr Morrison has a great way with people, which is demonstrated, powerfully, in my opinion, by the affection with which she is still held within the community of Govanhill.”
Rachel Kelly
Govanhill People’s History
'Dunfermline's Museum & Art Gallery Project: “Speaking Of..." '
"Sue was very helpful in organising and delivering training for our volunteers. Our project is carried out by community volunteers from lots of different backgrounds and skill levels. Sue helped to make them all feel welcome and feel like they were confident enough to carry out their first interviews. The knowledge and experience she has is invaluable, as she has so many former projects to use as examples and case studies."
Katy Firth
Research and Activities Assistant
New Dunfermline Museum & Art Gallery
Oral History Project Volunteer
“Sue recruited me as a volunteer with the 'Govanhill Oral History Project'. I later helped out with the Govan 'Diving for Pearls' project and the 'Paisley Mills' project.
The Govanhill oroject was the first of its kind I had been involved with and I found the help and support Sue gave was invaluable. The initial training she organised covered all aspects of such a project from using the recording equipment (and how not to delete interviews), interview techniques, client confidentiality, copyright and transcribing interviews. She also supplied a useful handbook for us to refer to when unsure of how to proceed. After the training she continued to support and encourage the volunteers, both as a group and on a one to one basis.
The information gathered from participants was fascinating and underlined the need for local history to be recorded in some way. I feel proud to have been involved in this work. Sue’s enthusiasm and passion for oral history is infectious and she makes everyone involved feel a valued member of the team. By working closely with the project she ensures outputs and outcomes are realistic and achievable. The end result is a piece of oral history of a high quality which meets the needs of the commissioning group.
I would recommend that any group or individual who wants to become involved in an oral history project work with Sue to achieve a first class end result.”
Carol Wiseman
Project Volunteer
Creative Media Intern: 'Govanhill People’s History'
“I worked with Sue on the ‘Govanhill Peoples History’ project in 2013 as a Creative Media Intern. From the beginning, Sue was an excellent manager, consultant, mentor, trainer and friend. On the project, Sue taught everyone not only the practices and interview techniques required of oral history, but she also transferred her energy and passion to everyone involved, which was demonstrated in the excellent quality of the final outcomes. She possesses the rare but valuable combination of brilliant interpersonal skills and organization skills, ensuring that deadlines were always met; an enormous accolade when you are working with a large group of volunteers, who do not necessarily adhere to time constraints.
Sue was patient throughout and went over and above her job requirements at every turn. She was approachable, inspiring and working with her was a special experience. Sue’s expertise and hard work undoubtedly drove a project which otherwise may have fallen on its face.”
Anna Paul
Digital and Planning Manager
Moviepilot Inc, Berlin
Glasgow Women's Library: 'She Settles in the Shields'
"You have really worked very hard and have done an excellent job. Congratulations!!! May Lord bless you with the best in life. (Amen)"
Shamaaila Noorane
Pollokshields Development Agency
"We are all delighted with the book you have written for Glasgow Women’s Library. Many thanks for all your efforts Sue, we really appreciate it."
Syma Ahmed
BME Project Officer
Glasgow Women's Library
Inverclyde Community Development Trust: 'Gie’s Peace'
"Working with Sue has been a real pleasure. Such a beacon of knowledge around best practice in Oral Histories teamed with her complex academic knowledge, and with accessible and enjoyable delivery, Sue engages so well on such a number of levels. The project is still at a very early stage of its development and Sue has been such a fantastic support, providing initial and top-up training for our volunteers. Sue’s advice has been essential to developing our approach to gathering oral histories and exploring sectarianism in this new and exciting way."
Laura Mathieson
Community Development Worker
Inverclyde Community Development Trust
Bill Murray, Volunteer: 'Gies Peace'
"I very much enjoyed the course on oral history delivered by Sue. The subject was one that I had little knowledge of but it was revealed in great detail by Sue, whose warm personality and knowledge was positively infectious. As what would be considered a "MATURE" student, I learned a lot from Sue thanks to her patience and deep understanding of people and human behaviour-------------Many Thanks Sue!!"
Bill Murray
Volunteer, Gies Peace
Inverclyde Community Development Trust
Donald John Maclean, Professional Photographer
"Projects: 'Govanhill People's History', 'Paisley People's Archive: Thread Mills' and 'Paisley's Enchanted Threads'.
I have had the fortunate experience of working alongside Sue on three different projects and on each one it has been an absolute delight to work with her. My initial experience of working with Sue was as an intern with the ‘Govanhill People’s History' project, led by Community Renewal. My role was to photograph people and places of interest in the area of Govanhill, which ultimately led to a photography exhibition at the Govanhill Baths.
It must be stated that Sue was a huge influence on me during this project, her attitude and work ethic was a great source of inspiration to me. Whenever I needed guidance, she was always there for me no matter the problem. I have been very lucky to continue my working relationship on two other projects with Sue since then. Her enthusiasm and commitment to each project has had a huge impact on how I approach any photographic project that I approach. I witnessed first hand Sue’s ability to tackle problems and issues that will inevitably arise with calmness and ease. Sue has a real calming influence on the project team, especially when its members are under pressure.
It really has been an absolute privilege and honour to work with someone as inspiring as Sue is and I hope to continue to do so in the future."
Donald John MacLean
Professional Photographer
'Holy Loch Heritage: The American Presence'
"Sue Morrison delivered oral history training sessions for Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust in 2013 for our project Holy Loch Heritage. This project was a Heritage Lottery funded project and focused on the period when the American Naval Base was sited in the Holy Loch on the Cowal peninsula.
Dr Morrison worked with volunteers and 4 primary schools in the peninsula, training school children and other participants in oral history techniques. They then gathered first-hand testimonies from local people - both Scottish and American - of their memories and stories from this period, 1962-1991. Children interviewed grandparents, their own teachers, and pivotal people from this period, building a picture of how this heritage impacted in the area. The pupils, staff and volunteers thoroughly enjoyed the experience, something that was completely unique to them, and that has sparked an interest in local history ever since.
Sue was a fantastic asset to the project, her clear delivery passed on simple skills and techniques that everyone could employ. We hope to work with her again in the future."
Jenny Hunter
Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust
'Govanhill People's History'
"'Govanhill People's History' recorded the dynamic history of migration in and around the Govanhill area of Glasgow. The aim was to celebrate Govanhill’s unique diversity and its important role as a portal for new Scots. The project explored the contribution of migrants to Scottish society, the difficulties they experienced, and asked whether Govanhill was a place of hope and personal development for them.
Dr Sue Morrison was the Scottish Oral History Centre's lead community oral history project trainer and adviser and worked with the project in that capacity throughout the oral history collection phase of the project. When the first project coordinator left to take up another post, Sue was asked to also step into the vacant role. At that point, no interviews had been generated. Sue's 8 month term with Govanhill People's History saw her recruit 18 volunteers to increase the overall number to 29. She trained, supervised and supported the volunteers to complete all of the project's 140+ oral history interviews, an amazing feat in the given time. She also found time to organise two very productive reminiscence events, encourage volunteers to conduct archival research, and support one placement student and two project interns to gain as much as possible from their time with the project.
Sue's down-to-earth honesty, solid advice, tremendous work ethic, and her great sense of humour, left a lasting impression on everyone she worked with, and she left the project with lots of fantastic material for the archive and project outputs."
Janet Thompson
Glasgow Southside Community Worker
'Walking Back to the Future'
"I contacted Sue for her advice on the 'Shettleston - Walking Back to the Future' project. She was very busy with other projects but very helpfully provided pro-bono advice on how oral history could work as a cross-generational project. She also helped with paperwork and making sure we knew to access the right equipment. This resulted in us gathering a small number of targeted oral history testimonies to insert into our downloadable app."
Katy Firth
(Formerly) Northlight Heritage