RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

Pembroke Center Oral History Collection (OH.1S.2013.002)

Brown University Library

Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Scope & content

The Pembroke Center Oral History Collection includes biographical forms, gift and release agreements, indices of topics discussed, transcripts, audio cassettes, and DVDs relating to the experiences of women, transgender, and gender non-binary members of Pembroke College and Brown University dating from 1911 to the present. Generally, the interviews discuss family background, academics, activism, birth control, dormitory life, gender expectations, traditions, race relations, sexism, student activities, the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Women's Movement.

The Pembroke Center Oral History Collection is arranged into 5 series.

Series 1, Administrative files, 1980-2017, contains the manuals, papers regarding the project's origins including course and grant proposals, and status reports. This series is arranged alphabetically according to topic.

Series 2, Individual oral histories, 1982-2022, contains any combination of biographical forms, gift and release agreements, indices of topics discussed, transcripts, and/or DVDs for participants interviewed individually. Files are arranged alphabetically according to the interviewee's last name as listed in the yearbook of their graduating class.

Series 3, Reunion and group oral histories, 1982-2024, contains any combination of biographical forms, gift and release agreements, indices of topics discussed, transcripts, and/or DVDs, for participants interviewed in class groups or with members of specific student organizations. Files are arranged alphabetically, class reunions preceding organization interviews, and then chronologically according to graduation year. Series 4, Audio cassettes, 1981-2006, contains audio cassettes for 138 individuals and 2 class reunions. Cassettes are arranged alphabetically according to the interviewee's last name as listed in the yearbook of their graduating class with the reunion cassettes last.

Series 5, Videotapes, 1984-2001, contains videotaped interviews of individuals, groups, and class reunions. Videotapes are arranged alphabetically according to the interviewee's last name as listed in the yearbook of their graduating class with the group and reunion videotapes last.

Series 6, Restricted material, is arranged into 2 subseries. Subseries 1, Restricted paper materials, contains any combination of biographical forms, gift and release agreements, indices of topics discussed, and/or transcripts for participants who did not sign release agreements or did not want their interviews to be accessed; or who shared potentially harmful information about another member of the Brown University community or their career. Files are arranged alphabetically according to the interviewee's last name as listed in the yearbook of their graduating class. Files in Subseries 2, Restricted electronic records, contains 7 audio cassettes relating to 5 participants who did not sign release agreements or did not want their interviews to be accessed. Cassettes are arranged alphabetically according to the interviewee's last name as listed in the yearbook of their graduating class.