The Oral History Collection is comprised of materials gathered since the early 1970’s, when Mary Jo Deering and others began the Oral History Program at The George Washington University. A large part of these early years covers the subject of school integration in Montgomery County, Maryland. Other topics include: housing, performing arts in Washington (including Wolf Trap), Foggy Bottom neighborhood, and various aspects of GW history.
In 1988, with the creation of a formal University Archives, additional histories were gathered by University Archivist G. David Anderson. The goal was “To broaden and enrich the archival record of the University, supplementing the written record… by recording on tape the recollections, impressions, attitudes and feelings of those associated with The George Washington University.” The program is on-going.
Significant interviews include a series of eighteen done with Elmer Louis Kayser between 1975 and 1977. Kayser was University Historian at that time and was affiliated with the University as a student and faculty member from 1914 to his death in 1985. His histories cover the length and breadth of the history of GW and are quite valuable in creating an image of university life over the years. All of these have been transcribed.
In addition, President Lloyd H. Elliott (1965-88) did a series of interviews in 1987, just before his retirement, that covers a wide range of topics (a 369-page transcript is included). Other interviews include former faculty and alumni.
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