Oral History Interviews

The oral histories presented here were conducted as a part of our ongoing project “Documenting Women’s Activism and Leadership in the Chicago Area, 1945 – 2000.” At present CWHC holds approximately 100 oral history interviews with women who were active in social issues and movements during this period.

Some of these interviews were conducted at the Center by CWHC volunteers; others were done by students in oral history related classes at Loyola University Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and other institutions. When working with oral history classes the students would usually focus on a specific topic for their interviews such as:  Chicago women community activists, women in the Chicago reproductive rights/reproductive justice movement, Chicago women activists in the 1960s, or Chicago women in the early Second Wave movement.

The oral histories selected for presentation here were conducted by a variety of narrators, both CWHC volunteers and students, and represent women who were active in many issues related to Chicago’s Second Wave.

Each interview includes both the original recording, either audio or video, plus a carefully processed transcript that has been audio edited and name checked for accuracy and spelling.

This is just the beginning. Please check back later for more.