Oral Histories
Step into the past with our captivating oral history recordings, which offer a nostalgic peek into island living through authentic and intimate stories. Browse a series of video interviews recorded in 2023 as part of the “Reluctant Paradise” exhibit, or audio interviews recorded in 2000 and 2001 as part of the Block Island Oral History project.
Reluctant Paradise
Recorded in 2023 as part of the “Reluctant Paradise” exhibit, these interviews feature Block Island residents reminiscing about life in the 1950s and 60s.
Oral History 2000–2001
The Block Island Oral History project got underway in the summer of 2000 through a grant to the Block Island Historical Society from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. Our goal was to capture the family histories and memories of generations of Block Island families that have lived and worked on island for at least the past one hundred years. When possible, we conducted group interviews with two or three family members representing different generations. We anticipated interviewing fifteen to eighteen families. What we learned very quickly is that there are far more island families that trace their histories back one hundred years. This group of interviews represents a strong beginning at documenting the family histories of Block Island’s oldest families.
With the advice and counsel of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and folklorist Michael Bell, a list of questions was developed for each of the interviewers to use as a guide. In each interview a set group of five or six questions was asked in order to gain a baseline of knowledge. From there the interviewers and the interviewees could explore other areas of family or island history.
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Thanks
We gratefully acknowledge the participation and assistance of the following people.
Interviewers
Kim Gaffett
Pam Gasner
Martha Ball
Margarite Donnelly
Families
Harriet Payne Phelan and Blake Phelan, Meagan Merrick Hobe
Lew, Kim, and Page Gaffett, Sandy Madison Gaffett
Katherine Champlin
Josephine Dugan, Champ and Orrinn Starr
Barbara Dodge Hall, Gary Hall, Danielle Rose
Rob Lewis
Everett, Verna, and Kirk Littlefield
John and Charon Littlefield
Lydia Rathbun Littlefield and Pam Littlefield Gasner
Don Littlefield
Edie Littlefield Blane
Claire, Norris, Lilly, and Harry Pike
Adrian Mitchell
Virginia and Tom Mitchell
Martha Ball
We hope you find these family stories and island history as vital and fascinating as we did.
Jane Musky Nina Stack