Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage
Since 1971, the Center for Oral History & Cultural Heritage (COHCH) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has collected and preserved Mississippians’ stories. Our collection boasts over 4,000 interviews - and counting - by far the largest in the state and one of the largest in the South. The memories shared by our contributors displays the rich history of our state. Our collection has proven an invaluable resource for researchers, journalists, teachers, students, documentarians, and museums.
In 1999, the Center became the repository for the Mississippi Oral History Project: “a ground-breaking initiative, funded by the Mississippi State Legislature, to document the collective memory of Mississippi's culture, heritage, and institutions.
About Our Collection
The oral histories are accessible via either Special Collections in USM’s McCain Library and Archives, and in the COHCH’s offices at USM’s Hattiesburg campus. The Center also provides access to an increasing number of its oral histories online.
While the COHCH has collected oral histories related to a variety of historical and cultural topics in Mississippi, the Center has a major strength in the documentation of the history and memory of the civil rights movement and its veterans.
Consider Donating Today
Since 1971, the Center for Oral History & Cultural Heritage has collected the interviews of Mississippians from all walks of life. In sharing their life stories, the over four thousand and counting contributors to our collection have given the Center and all of Mississippi, a precious gift that remains long after they pass on. We consider it a sacred trust to preserve and share their memories for future generations. Please consider going to our USM Foundation donation page and make a onetime gift or become a monthly supporter. It only takes a few minutes, but the results can last a lifetime.