http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/
Mission:
The Rutgers Oral History Archives seeks to document the life experiences of New Jersey residents and/or Rutgers University faculty, staff and alumni through its own interviews and in partnership with individuals and entities within the State and University communities carrying out similar work. ROHA seeks to make the resultant collection available to the benefit of scholars, students and others around the world through its digital online archive.
ROHA began as a collaboration between the Rutgers College Class of 1942 and the History Department to document the alumni's life experiences--first- and second-generation immigrant upbringings, the Great Depression, World War II and beyond. ROHA soon opened its doors to all affiliated with Rutgers University, then, to all New Jersey residents as part of ROHA's service to the public of New Jersey.
The interview tracks developed then--RU history, NJ History, veterans' stories--continue to form key parts of ROHA's long-term mission. The ROHA staff has since significantly augmented its collections pertaining to understudied, underserved groups--African-American, Latina/o, LGBTQ+, women, and others--within the Rutgers, NJ and veteran populations. ROHA has also launched partnership initiatives to document new populations and events, most notably the COVID-19 Pandemic and its impact on NJ.
ROHA operates under the aegis of Director Shaun Illingworth and Associate Director Jeongeun Park. The center's leadership reports directly to the History Department chair, currently Dr. Samantha Kelly.
Undergraduate & Graduate Education:
ROHA educates undergraduates in oral history theory and methodology, immersing them in the practice of conducting interviews. The Public History Internship Program allows students the opportunity to participate in ROHA as staff members for a semester. Several scholarship programs established by ROHA donors have allowed numerous undergraduates to participate as staff members while earning valuable financial support.
ROHA co-sponsors the John W. Chambers II Oral History Graduate Fellowship, which fosters the use of oral history in the scholarship of graduate students in history. Each year, the ROHA sponsors a public history lecture featuring the Chambers Scholar.