Oral History Archives at Columbia Research Guide: How do I cite an oral history interview or project?

Oral history resources at Columbia University

Citing oral histories

The Oral History Archives at Columbia welcomes personal, educational, and noncommercial use that qualifies as fair use (see CUL Fair Use Checklist) to all unrestricted interview materials in the collection. You must cite and give proper credit to Columbia Center for Oral History Archives.

The catalog record for many oral histories says “Permission required to cite and quote.” However, permission is not required for non-commercial use and access that qualifies as fair use.

The suggested form of citation is:

Oral History interview with _______________ (year of the interview), Collection or Project Title (when applicable), pages ________, Oral History Archives at Columbia, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York.

OR

Reminiscences of _______________ (year of the interview), Collection or Project Title(when applicable), pages ________, Oral History Archives at Columbia, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Examples:

Oral History interview with David Norman Dinkins (2014), Oral History Archives at Columbia, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Reminiscences of Frances Perkins (1955), pages 44 - 64, Oral History Archives at Columbia, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Reminiscences of Rex G. White (1951), pages 17 - 19, Radio Pioneers project, Oral History Archives at Columbia, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York.