Oral History Collections

BIRTHING PROJECT ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, 1990-present, 1.3 feet.

Interviews of women about their birthing experiences, transcribed and archived under assumed names to protect the privacy of the narrators. The interviews were conducted by Dr. Helen Sterk, with the exception of four interviews conducted on Native
American reservations and five interviews conducted in China by Dr. Alice Deakins, and three stories which were submitted in written form by the women. The collection included 69 interviews as of July 23, 1997.

DAY, DOROTHY-CATHOLIC WORKER COLLECTION, 1933-present, 218.3 feet (48.0 feet unprocessed).

Records of a faith-based, grassroots movement for peace and social justice through nonviolent direct action, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in New York City in 1933 and represented today by more than one hundred loosely affiliated "houses of hospitality" (including several in Australia, Canada, Europe, and Mexico) in which the poor and homeless are welcomed as guests. The records document the efforts of Catholic Worker volunteers to "live out" the Gospel message, interpreted as pacifist, personalist, and profoundly radical. The collection includes the personal papers of Day, Maurin, and others involved in the movement; records of the New York City and other Catholic Worker communities; photographs; audio and video tapes of interviews, talks, television programs, and peace demonstrations; and a wide variety of publications. [Connect to Inventory]

FALLA-SÁNCHEZ, RICARDO, S.J., PAPERS, 1937-[ongoing], n.d., 0.7 foot [6 reels microfilm] (0.4 foot unprocessed).
Facsimile research notes and manuscripts, copy photographs, and recorded interviews by and about Quiché Indians in Guatemala. The recordings (in Spanish and Quiché), correlate with the author's Ph.D. dissertation and published writings (in Spanish). This collection is closed. [Connect to Inventory]

GENERATION AFTER ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, 1983-1984, 3.0 feet.

Interviews of 65 Jewish immigrants living in the Milwaukee area, concerning life in Europe before the Holocaust. The project was sponsored by Marquette University and The Generation After (an organization of children of holocaust survivors) and directed by Dr. J. Michael Phayer, Associate Professor of History at Marquette.

KATERI TEKAKWITHA PROJECT ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, 1994-1995, 2.2 feet.

Recordings, transcripts, photographs, and field notes regarding American Indian prayer and religious devotions to Kateri Tekakwitha, a 17th century Catholic Mohawk convert and sainthood candidate. The interviews were conducted primarily among Brulé, Hunkpapa, Oglala, and Sans Arc Indians in South Dakota and Jemez, Laguna, Navajo, Pima, and Tohono O'odham Indians in Arizona and New Mexico. [Connect to Inventory]

MILWAUKEE WOMEN’S POLICY NETWORKS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 1990, 1.0 feet.
Recorded interviews, transcripts, and field notes with elected officials, community advocates, and city and county government administrators from Milwaukee, discussing women's policy networks in southeastern Wisconsin. The interviews were conducted by Marquette University political scientist Janet Boles. The interviewer's field notes restricted until 2018. Currently closed for processing. Available fall 2008.

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, 1967-present,
3.0 feet.

Interviews of retired or retiring trustees, officers, and other key employees of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, conducted by faculty of the Marquette University College of Business Administration. Partially transcribed.

RADIN, PAUL, PAPERS, 1903-1991, n.d., 13.1 feet. (4.0 feet unprocessed).

Papers and publications regarding oral literature and religious beliefs of ethnic groups in North America, Africa, and the East Indies. Included are rare articles and books, notes, and mostly facsimile correspondence from other repositories. [Connect to Inventory]

ST. JOSEPH'S INDIAN SCHOOL ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, 1991-1995, n.d., 0.5 feet.

Recordings pertaining to St. Joseph's Indian Industrial School (Keshena, Menominee Reservation, Wisconsin), a Catholic mission school. Respondents were former students--Menominee and Potawatomi Indians--and teachers--Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. [Connect to Inventory]

SOARING EAGLE-REVEREND EMMETT HOFFMANN HERITAGE PROJECT COLLECTION, 1972-1977, 1979, n.d., 6.5 feet (6.5 feet unprocessed).

22 motion pictures of early 20th century Northern Cheyenne life and 672 recordings of recollections (bulk in Cheyenne) and meetings of Cheyenne men and women elders on their life and cultural heritage. Selected English transcriptions are under development. This collection is closed.

WISCONSIN POLITICS ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, 1993-1995, 0.8 feet.

Audiotaped interviews of 21 former public officials and journalists concerning issues and personalities in Wisconsin state
government and the government of the city and county of Milwaukee. Notable interviewees include Lee Sherman Dreyfus, John
A. Gronouski, Patrick J. Lucey, Gaylord Nelson, William F. O'Donnell, John W. Reynolds, Martin J. Schreiber, and Frank P. Zeidler. Typed summary descriptions exist for most interviews. [Connect to Inventory]

ZABLOCKI, CLEMENT J., ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, 1984-1985, 1989-1990, 0.2 feet

Interviews of the congressman's associates and family member by William Haskins (transcripts) and Stephen Leahy (audiocassettes). Notable interviewees include George Reedy and Ivo Spalatin. [Connect to Inventory]

Ask an Archivist about records in this section