(Browse the Oral History Collection)
Oral History at the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections
The Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections is deeply committed to oral history as an essential part of its mission. The Archives has a two-fold purpose: (1) to document the history of Winthrop University (WU) and the surrounding community, and (2) to select, preserve, and provide access to primary source materials of enduring value for research and teaching at WU. Oral histories serve as a natural complement to the department’s archival collections and contribute significantly to historical research and scholarship.
The Oral History Program seeks to capture and preserve unique life stories, documenting historical events and personal memories that enrich the historical record. Since 1973, the Pettus Archives has been collecting these stories through recorded interviews, building a rich body of resources that now includes more than 700 interviews in audio, video, and transcript formats. Topics span a wide range of subjects, including:
Each oral history reflects the personal experiences, recollections, and perspectives of an individual. While each story is unique, together they form a mosaic of voices that provides a fuller, more nuanced understanding of the past.
Disclaimer: The content of oral history interviews are personal and interpretive in nature, relying on memories, experiences, perceptions, and opinions of the interviewee. They do not represent the policy, views, or official history of Winthrop University and the University makes no assertions about the veracity of statements made by individuals participating in the Oral History Program.