Library offers a listen into oral history project

Harry McFadden, M.D.

Harry McFadden, M.D.

Have you ever heard the story about Dr. Harry McFadden’s medical school interview with Dr. C.W. Poynter, dean of the College of Medicine ? Or about Dr. Myrna Newland’s experience working in a medical library?

Oral histories bring to life the experiences of UNMC’s leading figures from the past and present. Beginning in the 1980s, former library director Bernice Hetzner and Frank Menolascino, M.D., conducted several oral histories, which have been digitized by the McGoogan Library and Robert Wigton, M.D., who continued conducting oral histories in the early 2000s.

Now, the library is capturing additional stories from UNMC leaders and providing online access to the videos and transcripts. Nearly two dozen individuals are featured online.

Recent histories include James Armitage, M.D.; Virginia Grissom; Gerald Moore, M.D.; James Newland, M.D.; Myrna Newland, M.D.; Rowen Zetterman, M.D.; and David Crouse, Ph.D., among others. Upcoming interviews to be released include Mary Haven; Rosalee Yeaworth, Ph.D.; and Dr. Wigton.