In memory of Rob Cox, Head of the Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) at the University of Massachusetts Library Rob Cox died earlier this week.  We are very sad to lose such a friend and ally. Rob was an important person in the development of our Center.  He helped our then new Oral History… Read more

  Our current pandemic and Global Pause mean that all of us are living in unprecedented times. Youth Librarian Jenney Maloy would like to invite children ages 4 to 18 to share their daily experiences and thoughts to help create a historical record of this moment. Future generations will be able to visit the Procter… Read more

Essential workers Oral History Project The Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College will interview 5-10 people who are doing work that is deemed essential and indeed is essential.  Nurses, postal workers, grocery clerks, physicians, pharmacy clerks and pharmacists, EMTs, and others.  As many parts of our society and economy are shut down… Read more

You may be working remotely, on furlough, not working, or just feeling insecure.  This may be a time for listening to some stories of resilience.  Most life stories, it turns out, have some of that in them. Some have lots.   Below, you will find some links to stories. And remember, soon we will be doing… Read more

Our podcasting workshop series on April 7, 14, and 21, 1-3, at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, will be held online, via Zoom.  The workshop is free of charge, and sponsored by the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College, which is a collaborative project of Housatonic Heritage and Berkshire Community College. This… Read more

  We will host another podcasting workshop series April 7, 14, and 21, 1-3, at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield.  The workshop is free of charge, and sponsored by the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College, which is a collaborative project of Housatonic Heritage and Berkshire Community College. This time, Reinout van… Read more

In February, 2019, the NAACP Oral History Project exhibit opened at the Berkshire Museum.  It closed in May.  But now, thanks to two University of Massachusetts students, studying with Professor of History Sam Redman, Helen Kyriakoudes and Rachel Panasci Lima, that exhibit is online.  You can see the link to Their Stories here .  Thank… Read more

  We all have stories in our archives.  We know it is best to bring the stories out, for people to hear and see them.  But how?  One idea:   Involve the narrator, maybe she or he will have an idea.  That was the case in a recent event in New York Last weekend, I attended… Read more

Choosing Equipment for Oral History Projects The second webinar in the “Effective Oral History” series will be held this Thursday at 3 p.m. They will discuss factors to consider when deciding whether to use audio or video equipment when recording oral history interviews. Budget, staff, storage capacity, and project goals all affect equipment choices. Sponsored… Read more

The NAACP Oral History Project Exhibit, a collaboration of the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College, the NAACP – Berkshire Branch, and the Berkshire Museum, opened on Feb. 1, 2019 and closed on May 5. Now, thanks to Sam Redman, professor of oral history at the University of Massachusetts, two graduate students… Read more