Oral Histories

The archivist suspended interview collection in 2022. The following description provides an overview of the scope and contents for collecting activities which began in 2009. Earlier recordings were digitized from audiovisual media formats found in IWU's Archives.

The purpose of this project is to record memories of people’s experiences at IWU. In addition to basic biographical information interviewers will be prepared to ask questions based on the subjects' affiliation (alumni, staff, faculty, administrator) with the University. Subjects should feel free to share reflections on any part of their IWU experiences that they would like.

Personal anecdotes of administrators, staff and faculty are welcome in addition to comments directly related to their role on campus and their opinion about the changes that took place during their tenure.

All interview subjects will be asked to sign an interview agreement form permitting the University to use all or part of their recordings and/or transcriptions for exhibitions online or in physical formats. After the interview is complete, the subject may revoke this permission within 30 days.

The archives will gladly accept historical photographs of the interviewees or of the campus from the time they were involved with it. We will make scans and return originals only on request. Permission to exhibit loaned material digitally over the Web or printed and displayed in-house must be given at the time of the loan. Outright donations are quite welcome and will be accepted after the standard archives' donor agreement is signed.

Contact archives@iwu.edu to schedule an interview or for details on donations.