African American Studies Critical Guide to OHAM
Yale’s Oral History of American Music (OHAM) collection—an ongoing oral history project, which began in 1969—is home to over 2,800 audio and video interviews with key contributors to our twentieth and twenty-first century American musical landscape. OHAM’s interviewees are primarily composers, but include a number of music critics, music theorists, record producers, executives, and innovators in the field of music technology. This critical research guide highlights the African American voices in OHAM’s collection, as well as those whose work has been influenced by and/or indelibly shaped African American music from the early twentieth century through today.
This guide was created by Clara Wilson-Hawken, Af-Am PhD '21. It is maintained by:
Accessing the Collections
Access
OHAM provides access to interview recordings and text transcripts for personal research use, teaching, and educational purposes. Free online streaming access to most interview recordings is also available for a limited period of 30 days. Digital copies of most transcripts are also available at no charge.
In accordance with Yale's Web Accessibility Policy, accessible versions of OHAM’s materials can be provided upon request. The time required to prepare these accessible versions will vary.
To request online streaming access and copies of transcripts, please complete the Reproduction Request Form. Not all interviews have been digitized and transcribed. A staff member will contact you if OHAM is not able to fulfill your request.
Please contact Anne Rhodes with any questions.
Use
Researchers wishing to publish or broadcast OHAM materials are responsible for obtaining direct authorization from copyright holders. Generally, the interviewees or their estates hold the copyright.
Location and Hours
OHAM is normally open Monday-Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Check Sterling Memorial Library's hours here for holidays and closings.)
We are located within the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library inside Sterling Memorial Library.