Nunn Center

The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky is recognized around the world as a leader and innovator in the collection and preservation of oral histories.  The more than 13,000 oral history interviews in our collection provide a unique look into Kentucky, American, and global histories and represent a valuable resource for researchers.  The Nunn Center recorded its first interview in 1973, and the collection focuses on 20th century Kentucky history; Appalachia; agriculture; African American history; the history of education, politics, and public policy; the arts; Kentucky writers; gender; diversity; the Civil Rights Movement; veterans; the University of Kentucky; healthcare; and industries such as the coal, equine, and bourbon industries.

The Nunn Center engages individuals and communities by recording their stories and providing innovative archival access to those interviews.  You can access SPOKEdb, our online catalog/repository at https://kentuckyoralhistory.org. 

You can find the latest Nunn Center-related news and announcements by following us on Twitter or Facebook, reading the Nunn Center's blog, or listening to our Radio Features.  If you like podcasts, we have recently launched the Wisdom Project Podcast, which features interviews from the collection.  We also invite you to subscribe to our newsletter. 

For questions or to explore partnership opportunities, please contact the director of the Nunn Center, Doug Boyd.