Oral History Program
Preserving Aggie Stories for Future GenerationsThe Texas A&M University Archives Oral History Program preserves the voices, experiences, and memories of the individuals who have shaped the history of Texas A&M University. Established in 2025, the program is dedicated to documenting the personal perspectives that enrich the University’s official historical record and capture the lived experiences behind the institution’s traditions, innovations, and achievements.
Oral histories provide a unique opportunity to preserve firsthand accounts that may not otherwise appear in official records. Through recorded interviews, participants share their experiences in their own words, creating an enduring resource for researchers, students, faculty, former students, and future generations of Aggies.
As the institutional memory of Texas A&M University, the University Archives is committed to ensuring that the stories of the Aggie community are preserved alongside the documentary record of the University.
What We Collect
The Oral History Program documents the experiences of individuals whose lives and work have contributed to the history and mission of Texas A&M University. Interviews may focus on:
- University leadership and administration
- Faculty scholarship and research
- Student life and traditions
- Military history and the Corps of Cadets
- Athletics and student organizations
- Academic colleges and departments
- Campus growth and development
- Scientific discoveries and innovation
- Service, outreach, and extension programs
- Traditions and the collective Aggie experience
- Significant historical events and milestones
Documents Record What Happened. Oral Histories Explain How it Was Experienced.
Through personal recollections, oral histories preserve memories, traditions, institutional culture, and individual perspectives that may not exist elsewhere. These interviews provide valuable context for archival records and create a richer understanding of the University’s past.
The Oral History Program is committed to documenting stories that represent the breadth of the Aggie experience and preserving them for teaching, research, exhibitions, publications, and public engagement.
Accessing Oral Histories
The University Archives is actively building its oral history collections. As interviews are completed, processed, and preserved, they will become available for research through the Texas A&M University Libraries. Availability may include:
- Audio and video recordings
- Interview transcripts
- Digital access, when permissions allow
- Collection guides and descriptive metadata
Some interviews may have donor-imposed or legal restrictions governing access and use.
Partner With the University Archives
The University Archives welcomes opportunities to collaborate with colleges, departments, student organizations, former students, faculty, staff, student groups and clubs, and campus partners interested in documenting the history of Texas A&M University through oral history. Whether preserving the history of a department, commemorating a milestone anniversary, documenting a student organization, or capturing the experiences of individuals whose stories deserve to be remembered, the University Archives can provide guidance and assist with long-term stewardship for oral history projects.
Contact the University Archives to discuss potential projects: universityarchivist@library.tamu.edu.
Support the Oral History Program
Donations support the University Archives’ mission to record, preserve, and provide access to oral history interviews that document the traditions, leadership, scholarship, service, and spirit of the Aggie community. Gifts help fund interview recording, transcription, digital preservation, and long-term access, ensuring that these firsthand accounts remain available for research, teaching, exhibitions, and future generations.
Every Aggie has a Story
Together, those stories form the living history of Texas A&M University. The Oral History Program preserves these voices so that future generations can better understand the people, traditions, service, leadership, and innovations that have defined the University for more than 150 years—and will continue to shape its future.
Browse the Archives
Explore the nine collecting areas that document Texas A&M’s people, programs, and traditions.