Oral History Collection
Take A Look Inside
The Society has collected sound recordings for more than 65 years and, today, we manage more than 1,500 sound recording collections consisting of 45,000 audio items.
Oral history is both the process of conducting interviews and the recorded material that results from them. Interviews collect the stories of specific events to preserve personal experiences and connect them to broader social and historical contexts.
Holocaust survivor Karola Frankenthal Epstein (nee Rosenfeld) at her Madison home with project interviewer, Jean Loeb Lettofsky. ID:W013Z2Z
Oral Histories at The Society
Collections at the Society include oral history programs led by the Society as well as interviews conducted by individuals and groups before being donated to the Society.
Many oral history interviews are available online; others are available in the Archives Reading Room.
Search CollectionWisconsin Historical Society Projects
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Oscar Mayer Storytelling Project -- interviews of employees who worked at the Oscar Mayer plant and corporate headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Survivors of the Holocaust -- interviews with Jewish survivors of the Holocaust (Shoah) in Europe (1933-1945) who eventually settled in Wisconsin. Archivists from the Wisconsin Historical Society interviewed 22 Holocaust survivors and two American witnesses between 1974 and 1981.
- Senator William Proxmire Oral History Collection (Coming Soon!) -- Between 2008 and 2011, oral historian Anita Hecht of Life History Services interviewed 39 friends, family, colleagues and former staff of Sen. William Proxmire.
Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors in a camp at Holsbybrunn, Sweden. ID:W013Z1J
Community Oral History Projects
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Somos Latinas Project -- interviews documenting the activism of women in the Latino community.
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SoulFolk Collective -- Interviews conducted to learn how Black residents use space, understand and witness Black excellence and culture in Madison.
- Beloit Bicentennial Commission project -- interviews with residents of Beloit, Wisconsin, concerning migration the great migration following World War I.
Photograph of a walkthrough of the Black Cultural Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Kaleb Autman took the photograph in Summer 2025 as part of the SoulFolk Collective Oral History Project. ID:W01GEPD
Collections Use FAQs
Explore how you can find, access, and use our collection materials.
The Society's library and archives collections can be searched in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Library catalog and some parts of our collections have been digitized and are available online.
The Society's historical object collection cannot be searched online.
Library & Archives
Many books, bound periodicals, microforms and government publications may be checked out for home use with a library card. Rare, fragile, small and heavily used materials (including genealogical resources) do not circulate. A borrowing card is not required if you want to use materials within the Library. Archival materials are available for use in our Archives Reading Room.
For more information about our borrowing policies Library & Archives Services.
Historic Objects
If you are interested in viewing our historical objects please contact us.
Due to significant demands associated with developing the Wisconsin History Center, the Society has reduced capacity to handle loan requests. Therefore, we are not accepting new requests at this time.
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the webpage for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
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Personal use (prints, gifts, home and study): Request images for personal use
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Commercial use (public display, publishing, media, products, film and more): Request commercial use of our Collection
Materials in our websites and digital collection are provided for research, teaching, and private study. The Wisconsin Historical Society hold rights to some items; others may be governed by additional copyright or donor restrictions.
We encourage users to download low-res images from our website for personal or classroom use, without written permission, within the meaning of the principles of “Fair Use.”
Permission is required for reproduction, publication, or commercial use of any content made available through our websites and digital collection. By using this website, including our digital collections, you agree to the Terms of Use. Users are responsible for determining whether their intended use qualifies as fair use under U.S. copyright law. When relying on fair use, cite the source.
Visit Our
Library & Archives
Perhaps the best way to begin exploring our collections is by visiting us in person. In our reading rooms, you’ll find free and unparalleled access to our collections, helpful staff and amenities, and perhaps, your very own story.
Plan Your Visit Hours
Donate to The Society's Collections
Your Story is Wisconsin's Story
History is made every day, everywhere. Since 1846, contributions from people across the state have helped us fulfill our mission to collect, preserve and tell the stories of Wisconsin.
Find Out HowLast Updated: April 27, 2026
