Oral Histories

Oral Histories

The oral histories in this collection were produced by The Charleston Oral History Program at the Citadel. Founded in 2008, The Charleston Oral History Program at the Citadel seeks to deepen understanding of the Lowcountry’s rich history and culture through the gathering and presentation of recorded memories from area residents.

Search Tips

Interviews may be browsed by scrolling to the bottom of this page and selecting "View all items".

When using the search bar, we recommend putting quotations around your search term, and selecting the Boolean search option, as illustrated here:

To view interviews of a specific theme, please see the search tips in each series below.

The Citadel in War and in Peace

With generous support from the Humanities Council of South Carolina, The Charleston Oral History Program at the Citadel collected thirty interviews with Citadel alumni regarding their experiences during WWII. Journalist and historian Jack Bass conducted the interviews during the Fall of 2008.They serve as a powerful testament to the veterans' experiences and their critical contributions to the war effort.

*To search interviews in this series, use the following terms utilizing the Boolean search option:

• "The Citadel in War and in Peace"
• "The Citadel in War and in Peace -- World War II"
• "The Citadel in War and in Peace -- Korean War"
• "The Citadel in War and in Peace -- Vietnam War"
• "The Citadel in War and in Peace -- The Second Gulf War"
• "The Citadel in War and in Peace -- The War in Afghanistan"

Working Charleston

Working Charleston documents the on and off job experiences of the longshoremen and lawyers, the bartenders and carriage drivers, hospital aides and high tech workers who make Charleston among the nation's prime tourist destinations and vital centers of global trade.

*To search interviews in this series, use the following terms utilizing the Boolean search option:

• "Working Charleston"
• "Charleston City Workers"
• "Lowcountry Foodways"

Charleston and the Long Civil Rights Movement

These interviews explore how community activism continues to shape modern life in the South.

*To search interviews in this series, use the following terms utilizing the Boolean search option:

• "Charleston and the Long Civil Rights Movement
• "Civil rights movement--South Carolina"
• "African Americans--Civil Rights--South Carolina--Charleston"

Las Voces del Lowcountry

This project is designed to raise the profile of the Hispanic/Latinos who call the Lowcountry home and to promote a rational and humane conversation regarding immigration, education, and employment policies.

*To search interviews in this series, use the following terms utilizing the Boolean search option:

• "Las Voces del Lowcountry"
• "Latin Americans--Southern States"
• "Hispanic Americans--Southern States"

Women in World War II

*To search this series, type "Women in World War II" into the search bar, using the Boolean search option.

• "Women in World War II"
• "Women--Employment History"
• "World War, 1939-1945--Participation, female"

Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina