Oklahoma Oral History Research Program
The Oklahoma Oral History Research Program (OOHRP) was founded in 2007 as part of the Oklahoma State University Library, to broaden inclusion of individual memory and experience representing Oklahoma and OSU history and culture through ethical oral history practice. We are also an arm of the OSU Center for Oklahoma Studies.
Over time, in documenting historical space many individual and community contributions are left out or unavailable in archival records. The discipline and methodology of oral history empowers researchers to work towards filling these gaps by interviewing individuals about firsthand experiences and publicly sharing these primary-source perspectives through the OOHRP archives.
By advising students, faculty, and community members in the methods and ethical standards of oral history based on the Principles and Best Practices laid out by the Oral History Association, the OOHRP promotes the collection, preservation, and analysis of interview-based research.
Accessing the Oral History Archive
All OOHRP interviews are created in a digital format (audio or video), transcribed for greater searchability, and—when no restrictions apply—made available through our online collections catalog.
OOHRP Podcasts
Every month, Amplified Oklahoma shares voices from the OSU Library’s oral history collections and visits with experts, students, and our interviewing team, as we examine a variety of topics related to Oklahoma history and culture.
Dear Oklahoma, is a collaborative podcast with the Center for Poets and Writers at OSU-Tulsa and KOSU radio featuring writers who engage Oklahoma themes in their works
Graphic Novel and Curriculum Draw on OK Oral Histories
“Chilocco Indian School: A Generational Story,” a graphic novel written by Julie Pearson-Little Thunder with art and graphic direction from Johnnie Diacon and Jerry Bennett, can be downloaded for free.
The novel was produced by the OSU Library’s Oklahoma Oral History Research Program in collaboration with the Chilocco National Alumni Association. The graphic novel is a part of a larger history project related to the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, which was the largest intertribal Native boarding school in the U.S.
The project includes oral history interviews with alumni, photos, a documentary and educator resources.
Supporting Students and Communities
The OOHRP is committed to serving the Oklahoma and OSU communities. Staff is available to offer instructional workshops for communities or groups or speak to classes, whether at OSU or other educational institutions. We regularly consult on project design, archiving best practices, and the ethical and procedural standards based on Oral History Association’s principles and best practices.