Oral History Division of the Institute of Contemporary Jewry
Academic Director:  Dov Levin
Assistant Director:  Rikki Garti
General Field:  Contemporary Jewry

Background and Objectives:
     The Oral History Division of the Hebrew University's Institute of
Contemporary Jewry has recorded interviews with over 5,000 individuals
in 210 projects on various aspects of 20th century Jewish history and
life. Gathering this material directly from those who experienced the
relevant events, the Oral History Division preserves and provides
access to testimonies valuable to a broad spectrum of researchers in
Contemporary Jewry and related fields.
   The increasing number of interviews and growing interest in their
contents has created a need for more efficient registration and
comprehensive access to all materials available in the Oral History
Division.  Computerization of the collection has begun at the
Institute's Bibliographical Center and Contemporary Jewry Database,
available online via the ALEPH network.

Current Status:
     - As of 1979, the Oral History Division has published five
       catalogs of interviews. Many are available on microfiche and
       microfilm.
     - Catalog No. 6, containing information and interviews recorded
       since Catalog No. 5, has been indexed, annotated, registered
       and prepared for publication by Garland Publishers in the
       summer of 1989, at the Institute of Contemporary Jewry's
       Bibliographical Center.
     - The descriptions in Catalog No. 6 are now available online at
       the Institute of Contemporary Jewry's Bibliographical Center
       through the ALEPH computer network of the Hebrew University.
Future Plans:
     - Editing of the interview, interviewee and project indexes for
       computerized registration and retrieval.
     - Updating and editing of previously published catalogs as well
       as yet unpublished material, including information registered
       in card catalogs.
     - Preparation and registration of a comprehensive subject index
       for computerized access.
     - Training interviewers to register summaries of interviews
       directly onto computers for more efficient record-keeping and
       access.