About Us

The Oral History Lab (OHL) at the Mayaguez Campus aims to support the collection of oral histories and the creation of micro-documentaries, as well as their preservation, to incorporate voices and narratives from the Puerto Rican archipelago that traditionally do not appear in the official historical record. It is of particular interest for the OHL to work with communities and individuals affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, food insecurity and the environmental and social impact of climate change. Added to this, the OHL seeks to establish collaborations with scientists and engineers, contributing perspectives based on humanistic research to the practice of STEM disciplines.

The OHL interdisciplinary team includes oral historians, filmmakers and librarians. The collaboration with the GRIC (Graduate Research and Innovation Center) of the General Library guarantees the organization, access and digital preservation of the collected stories.

The Lab, the first of its kind in Puerto Rico, will be located at the General Library and is designed to be an active unit on campus that partners with STEM-focused disciplines to gather community-based research and to collaborate with community organizations, including mutual aid groups and citizen scientist projects.