Oral Histories

The Upcountry History Museum has collected oral histories since 2002 and has amassed an archive focused on mill life, World War II, and civil rights. The museum's oral history program fulfills an important aspect of the museum's mission "to promote, present, and preserve the history of upcountry South Carolina through education, research, and service." We are currently in the process of creating an oral history recording studio and lab at the museum that will be operational in 2009.
 
The oral history program is currently focused on collecting oral histories with individuals who lived through World War II. UHM Historian Dr. Courtney Tollison, Producer Don Koonce, and 2 interns from Furman University researched, conducted, and are in the process of preserving 32 oral histories with veterans, homefront supporters, mill workers, etc. collected in the summer of 2007. Excerpts from select oral histories appear in Koonce and Tollison's documentary, "Threads of Victory: Upcountry SC During WWII."  This 24 minute documentary is available for purchase at the museum's gift shop.
 
If you would like to suggest someone for us to interview, please fill out this form and either email it to courtney@upcountryhistory.org or mail it to WWII Oral History Program; UHM; 540 Buncombe Street; Greenville, SC 29601.
 
On going efforts will contribute to the UHM WWII Oral History program and the research and information gathered as part of this effort will be used in the development of a World War II exhibit that the UHM plans to open for Veterans Day in November 2009.
 
For information about Veterans Day events for November 2008 please click here.
 
To suggest someone for an oral history not related to World War II, please fill out this biographical information form and either email it to courtney@upcountryhistory.org or mail it to the Oral History Program; UHM; 540 Buncombe Street; Greenville, SC 29601.
 
If you would like to volunteer to assist with the oral history program please contact linda@upcountryhistory.org or call 864-467-3100.
 
Thank you for your interest in the Upcountry History Museum's Oral History Program.