Documenting Student Life: The Use of Oral Histories in University Archives

Abstract

<p>This article discusses a recent oral history project conducted by the University Archives, Iowa State University Library, which documents students' campus experience and concentrates on the university's annual celebration, VEISHEA. By focusing on current students, the University Archives has been able to actively document student life and become better aware of the numerous student activities on campus. The project has enabled the archives to build bridges to previously undocumented student groups. The contact through these interviews has led to the donation of records from these groups, and has made these students more conscious of their role in the university's history and their responsibility to document it.</p>