CENTER FOR U.S. WAR VETERANS’ ORAL HISTORIES
Contact: carol.fowler@dmava.nj.gov

The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey is the home of the Center for U.S. War Veterans’ Oral Histories. It is the Center’s mission to collect and preserve the memories of Veterans and Gold Star family members through recorded oral history interviews. Learn more at: https://njmilitiamuseum.org/oralhistory. For further information on access to this collection, or to participate in the program, please visit or contact Carol Fowler at the museum in Sea Girt at 732-974-4571 or carol.fowler@dmava.nj.gov.

STARING OUT TO SEA
Geographic Scope: New Jersey
Website: https://staringouttosea.com/

On October 29, 2012, the New Jersey coastline was struck by a devastating storm. With echoes of Katrina swirling through the public imagination, the state braced for inevitable destruction. The storm bore down on the state for two days, leaving extensive and long-lasting damage in its wake. Ultimately, Sandy resulted in 186 deaths from the Caribbean to Canada, tens of thousands displaced, and, as of 2013, an estimated $37 billion in damage in New Jersey alone. More significantly, it created a network of relationships across the state, as victims, volunteers, and state and federal agencies came together to rebuild communities. This project documents the stories of that network; it chronicles the experiences of the residents, business owners, politicians and policymakers, volunteers and relief workers, and the federal agencies that set out to support and manage these efforts. More fundamentally, it explores the relationships between power, access, and representation in the wake of natural disaster. How do we respond to such devastation? What is the role of government, and what is the role of individuals? How do issues of race and socioeconomic status impact the focus of recovery efforts? Whose voices matter?

ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM OF THE BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY
Geographic Scope: US Military ships and bases
Contact: oralhistory@battleshipnewjersey.org

The all-volunteer Oral History Program of the Battleship New Jersey video records interviews with former crew members, Navy and other military veterans, who talk about their on-board life, duties, and perils. We have done over 300 interviews, including veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut crisis, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The collection is available to researchers, historians, writers, educators, students, and the public from the Library of Congress and the NJ State Library, including online access. Users can digitally search a database of keyword lists, abstracts, or transcripts. Includes 100+ audio recordings and/or transcripts of interviews by naval historian Lt. Cmdr. Paul Stillwell USN (ret.) during his writing of the book, Battleship New Jersey: An Illustrated History.

FORT HANCOCK ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Geographic Scope: US Military ships and bases
Contact: oralhistory@battleshipnewjersey.org

Interviews with military veterans and civilian employees of Fort Hancock from 1985-1974. Sponsoring institution: Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit, NPSDepartment of History & Anthropology, Monmouth University

RUTGERS ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVES OF WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM & COLD WAR
Geographic Scope: Mid-Atlantic states, primarily New Jersey
Contact: illingwo@history.rutgers.edu

The Rutgers oral history archives conducts interviews with eyewitnesses to major conflicts of the mid to late 20th century. These men and women experienced each conflict from the factories of the homefront to the frontlines of the battlefield. The Archives also seeks to place the war years in context by recording information about each subject’s pre- and post-war life. Many of the projects participants are Rutgers University alumni, although the project has branched out into the general population of New Jersey in recent years.

ATLANTIC CITY PROJECT
Geographic Scope: Atlantic City, New Jersey, and surrounding communities
Contact: jkarmel@harford.edu

The Atlantic City Project is collecting oral history interviews on the casino era in Atlantic City and South Jersey region (1976-present). The project is documenting the socio-economic impact of the casinos in the region. Project participants include casino employees, agency officials, educators, small business owners, community leaders, neighborhood residents, union officials, and political leaders. One important area of emphasis has been the role of new immigrants in the casino era.