Southern Oral History Program at UNC Chapel Hill

People make sense of their lives through story. The South is especially rich in storytellers, and it has a vibrant past of struggle and renewal. For more than forty years, the SOHP has preserved the voices of the southern past. Our aim has been to learn the South’s history from the people who have lived it, who have staked their lives and values in it, and who are eager to supplement the historical record with the vitality of their own accounts. We work to capture priceless memories before they are lost, and we present these stories to the public in creative forms. Since 1973, the SOHP has conducted 6,000 interviews with men and women–from mill workers to civil rights leaders to future presidents of the United States. Made available to the public through UNC’s renowned Southern Historical Collection and through our online database, these interviews capture the vivid personalities, poignant personal stories, and behind-the-scenes decision-making that bring history to life.