Oral History, 1979-2008 | Northern Illinois University

The Oral History Collection is comprised of ten separate oral history projects.  Some of the oral history projects are quite large, such as Town-Gown Relations in DeKalb (OH-2, containing 43 interviews) and Farming and Farm Families in DeKalb County (OH-3, containing 34 interviews).  Two collections, NIU Biographies (OH-4) and Regional Histories (OH-9), contain only one interview each, as of 2009.

In most cases the original oral history cassette interviews are available for listening.  In other cases, such as the Burlington Railroad Strike Collection (OH-7), only the transcripts are available [and these are located in RC 217].  Many of the other oral history interviews have only abstracts which highlight and summarize the questions and answers.  A reference assistant will aid researchers who wish to listen to the interviews on the tape recorder.

In some instances the researcher can find supplemental materials included with the collections.  Addition information may also be found in other University Archives and Regional History Collections  – please ask a staff member for assistance.