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 14,000 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, subscribe to our YouTube channel,  or reading the Nunn Center's blog.  If you like podcasts, we produce the Wisdom Project Podcast, which features powerful stories from interviews in the Nunn Center collection. We host several ongoing digital exhibits, check those out online. We also invite you to subscribe to our newsletter.  Checkout the Nunn Center social media channels below:

For questions, to explore oral history partnership opportunities, or if you want to support the work of the Nunn Center, please contact the director of the Nunn Center, Doug Boyd.