Does the Museum conduct oral history interviews?
The Museum ceased testimony production at the end of 2024. It is pivoting its focus to improving the documentation of the tens of thousands of oral histories in its collection, enhancing their discoverability and accessibility.
If you are interested in pursuing a testimonial interview with another Holocaust documentation organization, we encourage you to consult the Association of Holocaust Organizations.
Do you have copies of the Shoah Foundation interviews?
The interviews conducted by Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation are now part of the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive. Written information about the interviews, including the interviewee's name, is included in the Museum’s online catalog. Shoah Foundation interviews may be viewed only in the Museum’s Library and Archives reading rooms or any other Visual History Archive access sites.
How do I conduct an interview?
The Museum’s Oral History Interview Guidelines (PDF), last updated in 2007, is a unique reference guide to aid members of the public interested in conducting interviews. The guide contains step-by-step suggestions for making initial contact with an interviewee, conducting research and preparing questions for the interview, and producing transcripts and summaries to help make the interview(s) accessible to researchers.
How can I donate an interview?
The Museum collects Holocaust-related interviews with eyewitnesses conducted by individuals and institutions. Please contact curator@ushmm.org for more information about the donation process.
Can I donate a copy of my interview, which was produced by another organization?
Yes, if a donor can obtain permission from the original organization (which likely holds copyright), then the Museum will consider the interview for the Permanent Collection. We cannot accept copies of interviews produced by the Shoah Foundation and Yale’s Fortunoff Archive, even though we serve as an access point for their collections.
What types of media/formats do you accept?
While the Museum is moving beyond physical media, we accept a broad range of interviews in analog and digital formats.
What types of subject matter do you accept?
We accept a broad spectrum of Holocaust-related experiences. Please contact curator@ushmm.org with subject-specific questions.
Do you accept donations of interviews in languages other than English?
Yes.
I have a written interview, which I would like to donate.
Written testimonies are part of the Museum’s archival collection. Please contact curator@ushmm.org for further information.
Can I request a translation if an interview is in a foreign language?
The Museum does not provide translations on request.
Can I volunteer to transcribe or translate interviews at the Museum?
Yes, the Museum needs volunteers to transcribe and/or translate its oral testimonies. In addition to English-language oral testimonies, the Museum has interviews in more than 30 languages. Please contact the volunteer office if you would like to volunteer to transcribe or translate interviews for the Museum. You do not need to be in Washington, DC, to volunteer as a transcriber or translator.
Can I use testimonies from the Museum’s collection in a production?
Download and licensing information for a testimony can be viewed in the online catalog record. For additional information regarding use, please see the Museum’s Terms of Use. For further questions, contact permissions@ushmm.org.
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