The Southern Oral History Program is committed to the power of memory, voice, and storytelling that informs our evolving ideas about the people and cultures of the American South.

Search the interviews

PXL_20220902_160859733.PORTRAIT

"You don't have to be famous for your life to be history."


These words, spoken by Nell Sigmon when she was interviewed in 1979, serve as our unofficial motto. They remind us of the extraordinary significance of ordinary lives and guide our efforts to document stories and experiences of the South.

 

hall w g and g jonhson

Answering questions with oral histories


We ask questions about the American South that can only be answered through oral histories. The SOHP is committed to being a resource for anyone looking to use this original research for their own projects. Our interview database is a rich repository of accounts ranging from politicians to activists, business owners to millworkers, educators to artists.

A view of students passing in front of Wilson library.

Interview Archive

The Southern Oral History Program interview archive is available through the Southern Historical Collection in the Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

digital-exhibit-2

Research Projects

We create original research and partner with interdisciplinary collaborators in advanced initiatives and strive to make our archive useful to communities from which these stories originate.

De3w8ElXUAUZWd5.jpg-large

Opportunities

We enhance oral history training and education by training, supporting, and partnering with community members, students, and faculty to conduct advanced, ethical research.

Katie Womble and Darius Scott 2014

Resources

We strive to make our unparalleled archive useful to communities, scholars, and practitioners worldwide. The interviews serve as primary sources for bold and compelling research.