Institution: University of South Carolina. South Caroliniana Library, Oral History Program

Skateboarding’s journey to the Olympics oral history collection

The oral history interviews presented here document the perspectives and experiences of those who are avid skateboarders in the Columbia, South Carolina area. Interviewees describe the skate scene through music, art, fashion, social media, videos, pop culture, injuries, skate parks, friendship, and more. Many recount what it feels like to skateboard, providing detailed descriptions for …


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Election 2020 Oral History Collection

This collection reflects coursework by students at the University of South Carolina Honors College exploring the 2020 election and civic engagement.  Developed in 2019, before the presidential match-up was determined, the course emphasized exploration of all viewpoints and the many ways citizens can engage with their larger community around the political process. Interviewees range in …


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COVID-19 Oral History Collection

This collection was created in May 2020 as a product of a service-learning class taught in the Honors College at the University of South Carolina to document the perspectives and experiences of those impacted in a variety of ways by the COVID-19 pandemic, using oral history skills to tell the stories. The collection includes ten …


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The 2015 South Carolina Flood Oral History Collection

For residents of Columbia and the many communities throughout the state, the 2015 flood was much more than statistics suggest. The oral histories in this collection begin to humanize the experience of the flood, as residents confronted loss and destruction of homes and businesses, and found support and resilience within their communities. Those willing to …


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James H. Davis and John S. Davis U.S. Marine Corps Oral History Collection

The oral history interviews in this collection seek to tell the story of Lt. Col. James H. Davis and his brother, John Sherwood Davis, by sharing recollections and experiences of those who knew or served with them. Family members, college friends, and fellow Marines have been interviewed, and those interviews form the foundation of ongoing …


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Fairfield High School Oral History Collection

Stories of desegregation often focus on the urban schools that were in the spotlight thanks to their media coverage or the conflicts surrounding them, from Little Rock to Boston. Much less attention is paid to schools in rural communities, outside the media glare. In addition, the period before integration is often neglected, or discussed solely …


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Kline Iron & Steel Company History and Recollections

Kline Iron and Steel Company (1923-2003), known for its high quality products and services, had a reciprocal reputation of loyalty and respect between employees and owners. Through the thirty-plus oral history interviews in this collection, narrators share their stories of family, community, friendship, and work. As recalled by many, working with Kline was like being …


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South Carolina Veterans Oral History Collection

This collection highlights the lives and experiences of American veterans who now call South Carolina home. Most major military conflicts including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan are represented in the collection, as are all branches of the U.S. military. The veteran interviewees range …


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William Savage oral history collection, 1982-1988

The William Savage (1914-1997) oral history collection documents a small part of the institutional history of the University of South Carolina through oral history interviews with forty former faculty and staff members. Dr. William Savage, founder and curator (1973-1985) of the Museum of Education in the College of Education, conducted most of the interviews in …


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Loretta Dunbar Oral Correspondence Collection, 1974-1979

Loretta Dunbar, who eventually settled in Aiken, South Carolina after a life of travel, served in the Peace Corps in West Africa (specifically Nigeria and Ghana) from 1971-1979. It is where she met, fell in love with, and married Scotsman James “Hamish” Dunbar. In these audio-recorded letters Loretta sent to her mother and step-father (Lola …


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