Archives adds oral history to digital collection

Published May 16, 2013 This content is archived.

Interested in learning about Nazi activity in Buffalo during World War II?

How about early 20th century arthritis research? Or maybe the education philosophy of the man who oversaw the Buffalo Public Schools from 1957-75?

If so, you’ll want to check out “University Archives Oral History Collection, 1968-93,” the latest addition to UB Libraries’ Digital Collections. .

The collection contains more than 40 interviews with members of the UB community, including administrators, alumni, faculty, staff and UB Council members. Most of the interviews were conducted from 1978-79 by University Archives staff members Jenny Peterzell and Brenda Shelton.

At the time, Shonnie Finnegan, head archivist, wrote that UB has “a rich, multi-layered past which is not reflected in the written record. These oral accounts … fill the gaps in the record and capture the past in more vivid, human terms.”

University Archives plans to restart the project this summer by conducting and recording a new round of interviews. More details are forthcoming.

For more information on current or future archives, contact Amy Vilz, university archivist, at amyvilz@buffalo.edu or 645-2991.