Does the UNT Oral History Program Offer Training or Community Workshops?

Yes. According to the program's own website, the UNT Oral History Program trains UNT students in the theory and methods of oral history, and it also conducts workshops for members of the larger community who are interested in preserving their own histories. So there are two distinct audiences: enrolled UNT students and members of the public.

Training for UNT Students

The program describes student training as part of its core mission, alongside recording, transcribing, and archiving interviews. The training covers the theory and methods of oral history rather than only technical recording skills.

If you are a UNT student, the practical starting point is the program office itself. It is housed in the General Academic Building (GAB) on the main campus in Denton, Texas, Suite 107 on the lower level, and is affiliated with the UNT Department of History. The program is supported by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and UNT Libraries, so students in those areas are especially likely to encounter it, but the site does not restrict training to a single major.

Workshops for Community Members

The community workshops are aimed at people who want to preserve their own histories — for example, a local family or organization wanting to record and keep its own story. The site does not list a workshop schedule, fee, or registration process, so the reliable next step is to contact the program directly:

• Phone: 940-565-2549
• Office: General Academic Building (GAB) Suite 107, lower level
• Mailing address: UNT Oral History Program, 1155 Union Circle #305430, Denton TX 76203

Because no pricing or registration details appear on the page, do not assume the workshops are free or open without inquiry. Ask about upcoming dates, eligibility, and any cost when you call or visit.

Partnerships and Collaboration Opportunities

Beyond formal training, the program maintains ongoing partnerships with organizations that share its mission. The site names these partner categories:

If your organization fits one of these categories and is working on preserving local, state, or U.S. history, partnership is the relevant path rather than a public workshop. The program's collection strengths — World War II (over 1,000 veteran interviews), Texas political history, Texas business history, the New Deal in Texas, civil rights history, and immigration history — indicate the subject areas where collaboration is most likely to align.

What the Program Actually Does

Understanding the scope helps you decide which route fits you. The program records, transcribes, and archives oral history interviews. Nearly all interview recordings are transcribed, and the transcripts are edited, bound, and archived in Willis Library, where they are available to scholarly researchers and the general public through UNT Special Collections. The collection is also listed in the Texas Oral History Locator Database (TOLD).

So if your interest is in learning the method, the student training or community workshop is the fit. If your interest is in using existing interviews, the collections and transcript-ordering pages are the fit. If your interest is in adding your organization's history to the archive, a partnership conversation is the fit.