These oral history collections include recordings, transcripts, and other materials captured as part of projects to collect personal recollections on various aspects of Rhode Island life in the twentieth century. A number of these projects are focused on the history of the university. Other projects are focused on immigrants and other minority groups, labor and activism, local communities, and particular events or eras. University Archives and Special Collections is a depository for these oral history projects, many of which were conducted by other agencies. Electronic guides to the collections are linked from this page. Those guides note when additional paper indices are available on site.
The Family in the Fifties
Mss.Gr.116; 1994; 29 cassette tapes; transcripts
Fine, Samuel Family History
Mss.Gr.203; 1975-1976; 4 cassette tapes; no transcripts
Galilee Fishermen (finding aid)
Galilee Fishermen Oral History Tapes (digitized recordings)
Mss.Gr.37; 1979; 13 cassette tapes; partial index, supporting research material
Mable Graves (Osahadah) Oral History Interview on Narragansett life in the 1930’s and 1940’s
Mss.Gr.23; 1976; 2 cassette tapes; transcript
HERA (Gallery)
Mss.Gr.64;1988; 23 cassette tapes; no transcripts
Immigrant Oral Histories
Mss.Gr.32;1976-1978; 4 cassette tapes; transcripts
In the Wake of ’38
Mss.Gr.30; 1977; 84 cassette tapes; transcripts
Jamestown Bridge Project
Mss.Gr.93; 1989; 29 cassette tapes; indexed; no transcripts
Jamestown and Newport Ferry Company Oral History
Mss.Gr.55; 1986; 37 cassette tapes; indexes
Bernard LaFayette Oral History Project
Mss.Gr.123; 2002-2003; 10 interviews; index; transcripts
Life Story Theatre
Mss.Gr.66; 1987-1988; 13 cassette tapes; transcripts
Florence Luscomb
Mss.Gr.82; 1972-1973; 8 cassette tapes; transcripts
Mill Life Oral History Collection
Mss.Gr.81; 1970-1977; 144 cassette tapes, 42 reel-to-reel tapes; transcripts
Rhode Island Black Heritage Society Oral Histories
Mss.Gr.174; 1998; 9 cassette tapes; no transcripts
Rhode Island Working Women
Mss.Gr.52; 1982; 33 cassette tapes; transcripts
Rhode Island’s Islands
Mss.Gr.54; 1985-1986; 60 cassette tapes; logs
Prudence Island-related interviews (recordings)
South Providence Community Gardener Oral History Project
Mss.Gr.122; 1997; 7 cassette tapes; transcripts
What Did You Do in the War, Grandma?
Mss.Gr.85; 1989; 42 cassette tapes; transcripts
The Whole World Was Watching,1968
Mss.Gr.143; 1998; 22 cassette tapes; transcripts
Yankee Ingenuity
Mss.Gr.31;1968; 27 cassette tapes; transcript
University of Rhode Island-focused oral history projects –
John C. Weldin and Donald B. Webster Oral Histories of Rhode Island State College
Mss.Gr.202; 1958-1960; reel-to-reel and cassette tapes; transcripts
University of Rhode Island Oral History
Mss.Gr.39; 1979; 13 cassette tapes; transcripts
University of Rhode Island Centennial Oral History
Mss.Gr.109; 1992; 52 cassette tapes; no transcripts
(Re)Presenting a Half Century: Oral History of the College of Arts and Sciences
Mss.Gr.124; 1982; 9 videocassette tapes; no transcripts
Graduate School of Oceanography Oral History Interviews
Rec.Gr.138; 1999; 7 digital video cassettes; no transcripts