Historians at Work: Exploring the Craftsmanship of Historical Inquiry

Abstract

In this lecture, I will embark on an exploration of historical knowledge generation, with a particular focus on how historians navigate both written and oral sources. Drawing upon illustrative examples from my own research, I will delve into the broader methodological considerations that historians must consider in their scholarly pursuits. My examination will shed light on the nature of archives, revealing the inherent messiness and incompleteness that define these repositories of historical information. Furthermore, I will venture into the realm of oral history, meticulously examining its pivotal role in challenging traditional historiographical paradigms. The lecture will shed light on the interpretative tools indispensable for the craft of historians.

 Radu Harald Dinu

Radu Harald Dinu is an Assistant Professor of History and Head of Subject Area (History). He also serves as co-leader for the research environment CCD (www.ju.se/ccd) at Jönköping University. Radu Harald Dinu received his Ph.D. in history from The Max Weber Center for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies, Erfurt University, and a M.A. degree in East European History from Leipzig University (Germany). Previously, he has been working at Karolinska Institutet, the Hugo Valentin Center (Uppsala University), and the University of Skövde.