Center for Oral History

As society turns ever more toward the digital world with social media, text messaging, and email, the Center for Oral History at Virginia Tech serves as a bulwark against the erosion of the art of conversation.

The center promotes, documents, and shares conversations of historical significance. Those recorded conversations have many purposes, such as transferring knowledge, supporting research, and entertaining while educating listeners. Just as important, the center promotes deeper societal values like fostering trust, intimacy, and empathy between individuals and groups, which are keys to reclaiming conversation. 

Join the conversation and explore  services and resources available through the Center for Oral History. Contact us at: oralhistory@vt.edu or 540-231-6442. 

Inclusion and Diversity Statement

The Center for Oral History (COH) acknowledges that the Tutelo/Monacan people are the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work and that was acquired through the Morrill Act. We seek to be responsible stewards of this space, honoring that heritage.

As an established research center our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is one of the focal points of the center. We seek to develop, inspire, model, and support inclusive, community based, experiential education using high-impact practices and strategies from oral history and digital storytelling pedagogies. 

We are committed to employing operational and outreach policies and practices consistent with the university's commitments to service and to the equitable inclusion of diverse ideas, persons, and groups. We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination and are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

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