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My Princeton Oral History Project Collection
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Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
This oral history project was created by Valencia L. Johnson, Amanada Ferrara, and Annalise Berdini for the Amp Up Your Archive program.
The My Princeton Oral History Project was created for both undergraduates and graduate students of Princeton University. The project aimed to create a space for Princeton students who feel left out of the dominant Princeton narrative by capturing and sharing their unique experience. The oral history interview can cover any subject a student wishes: from interviewing dining staff to gathering interviews of students to discuss the difficulties of balancing school, family, and work. The main requirement is a current student must be involved in the process.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Valencia L. Johnson in 2022. Scope and content notes added by James Morales Class of 2026.
No materials were separated from this collection.
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- Valencia L. Johnson
- Finding Aid Date
- 2022
- Access Restrictions
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This collection is open.
- Use Restrictions
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Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.
For instances beyond Fair Use where the copyright is not held by the University, while permission from the Library is not required, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
0.1 GB
Laura discusses her upbringing across New York state and defining childhood experiences which determined her sense of self and affected her experience at Princeton. In addition, she discusses her potential plans for medical school, her work with food activism on and off campus, and her first few memorable experiences during Outdoor Action orientation. She also reflects on her sense of belonging within the Princeton community and her hopes for the future.
Physical Description0.1 GB
The narrator explains their family's historical background and the stories of his ancestors who immigrated to America and eventually settled in Texas. They discuss their passion for traditional Jewish religious and political values and how that emerges in personal discussions and political activism for Ted Cruz. Finally, they describe how they balance their familial, social, and educational priorities as a Princeton student.
Physical Description0.1 GB
In the first section, the narrator explains their background as a low-income Afro-latinx student and how this influenced their decision to attend Princeton. They address their struggles to fit with fatphobia and academic pressures within Princeton's cultural environments but highlight sources of community they've found through the Freshman Scholars Institute, Woke Wednesdays, and SIFP.
In the next section, the narrator reflects on their experience as a student during the beginning of the COVID pandemic in March of 2020. As a student on campus during the pandemic, they discuss how they adjusted to loneliness and self-advocated for better working and living conditions on campus. They also discuss their reactions to President Eisgruber's statement regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and political action conducted by the Black Justice League prior to 2020.
Physical Description0.1 GB