Department of Oral History, University of South Carolina

The stories and life experiences of those who attended Rosenwald schools.

As work continues to digitize and transcribe the 700 interviews in the International Women's Year collection, we've added 60 women's stories in the past year. Today we celebrate with a reminder that we are committed to sharing these stories of struggle and accomplishment 44 years ago: https://digital.library.sc.edu/exhibits/iwy/national-interviews/

Larry Lebby (1950-2019) was a South Carolina artist and one of the first Black students to integrate Airport High School in Columbia. In this first of two interviews, he describes his experiences at AHS and, among other subjects, recounts how he came to know Benjamin Mays while painting his portrait.

Follow this link to listen to Mr. Lebby's story in his own words: https://digital.library.sc.edu/exhibits/scoralhistory/larry-lebby/

New Oral History Collection

In May, students at the University of South Carolina's Honors College developed skills as they learned about the evolving COVID-19 global pandemic.

Presented here as an online collection are the 10 interviews students conducted virtually from around the country. These are of people from Tennessee, South Carolina, New Jersey, Missouri, and more.

Home - COVID-19 Oral History Class Collection College campuses began moving classes online in March, 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) gained a strong foothold in the United States. In May, Andrea L'Hommedieu taught an online 3-week service learning course for UofSC's Honors College to document the perspectives and experiences of thos...

All UofSC Libraries buildings will close effective Wednesday, March 18. Visit bit.ly/uofsclibrariesCV411 for information about accessing online assistance, resources and collections.

It's ! Celebrate the day by reading an interview with a South Carolina woman who attended the 1977 conference on the status of women in the U.S. We continue to digitize and transcribe these interviews to share with you!

South Carolina Interviews – 1977 International Women's Year (IWY) Oral History Collection South Carolina Interviews The South Carolina conference “The South Carolina Woman: Heritage to Horizons” preceded the national conference by several months and took place in Columbia, South Carolina, June 10 & 11, 1977. (State conferences occurred around the country in the summer prior to the Na...

Our office is expanding! We are hiring a part-time oral history assistant. Click on the link for details:

Library Technical Assistant This position has a flexible work schedule with the normal work schedule Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Tomorrow we will celebrate students' work this semester. They conducted oral history interviews with 18 women who gave voice to their life and work experiences in our class: Woman Power!

Stop by Hollings at 10am to see the final projects and meet the students!

Thank you to Marine Mattie DeBramaletta for these wise words of wisdom: “Do not let somebody else set your limit. Reach for it, go for it, and do it. That’s what I think. I know I would have not known back in 1968 when I started this journey that I’d be able to sit here and talk about what it was like because I did not have any idea. I’d never known a Marine in my whole life and I am the only Marine in my family.” See her full interview here:

Mattie Bowers DeBramaletta Marines Interviews Interviewee: Mattie Bowers DeBramaletta Interviewer: Catharine Aretakis Date: November 15, 2018 Accession #: VET

29 Veterans' stories are now accessible online and share experiences of men and women of all ages who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and the Public Health Service.

Last month, this project won a national award: The Elizabeth B. Mason Award, given by the Oral History Association

The sounds of history Students in Andrea L’Hommedieu’s oral history class in the South Carolina Honors College are interviewing military veterans this semester, learning the art of asking questions and telling stories.

Please join us tomorrow afternoon (Thursday) at 4:30 to celebrate this award for the project. Drop by Hollings Library to say "congrats" to the students!