Oral History Program

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The U.S. Naval Institute's Oral History program exists for the purpose of preserving and making available the recollections of Navy and Coast Guard personnel. The Naval Institute tape-records interviews with people who have made history in the naval profession. The interviews are then transcribed, annotated, indexed, and bound.

Since the inception of the program in 1969, more than 230 bound volumes have been completed, and interviews have been done to produce dozens more.

The U.S. Naval Institute oral histories are funded by gift income. Tax-deductible contributions to underwrite a specific history or for general program support are gratefully accepted. 

Further support for this program has been graciously provided by:

Among current projects for which we seek support are the oral histories of:

Lieutenant Commander Wesley A. Brown, USN (Ret.)
Vice Admiral Bernard B. Forbes, Jr., USN (Ret.)
Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Frank B. Kelso II, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Robert Kramek, USCG (Ret.)
Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence, USN (Ret.)
Admiral James Loy, USCG (Ret.)
Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin, USN (Ret.)
Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Paul David Miller, USN (Ret.)
Admiral J. Paul Reason, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Leighton W. Smith, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Stansfield Turner, USN (Ret.)

We have indexed material found in the oral histories on the following topics:

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
Korean War
Midway Island/Battle of Midway