Institute of Oral History
Welcome to the Institute of Oral History (IOH) at UTEP. We were established by Dr. John H. McNeely as part of the Department of History in 1972. Our mission is to preserve “the history of the region adjacent to the Rio Grande both in the United States and in Mexico." In the past four decades we have built the largest border-related oral history collection in the United States. Our holdings include over 1,600 interviews and more than 20,000 pages of transcript. In these oral histories you will find often very personal stories of living on the border as well as descriptions of great historical events, including revolutions, wars, and immigration. Researchers have turned to the IOH for sources for over forty years, producing monographs on the Mexican Revolution, El Paso, Ciudad Juárez, Smeltertown, immigration, nationalism, and many more topics. In the years to come, many more books will emerge from the IOH’s rich collection.
Copies of the oral history tapes, transcripts, indexes, and summaries are housed in the Special Collections Department, 6th floor of the UTEP Library. Oral histories are also accessible through DigitalCommons@UTEP, a searchable site.
Search Our Collection
Search through our extensive digital archive that contains audio recordings and transcripts of over 1,600 oral histories. These oral histories are available to researchers and the general public.
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Resources for Students
There are many opportunities available for students interested in oral and public history. Students can also learn about the oral history process by accessing links to informative research guides.
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Upcoming Events & Workshops
Get involved through our upcoming events and workshops that showcase our community outreach. If you would like to schedule a workshop for your class or organization, please click below to submit a request.
Learn MoreTOHA is coming El Paso!
TOHA 2026 will be held September 11–12, 2026, at El Paso Community College - Rio Grande Campus in El Paso, TX.
This conference will continue the Texas Oral History Association’s annual gathering of scholars, students, professionals, and community historians dedicated to preserving, sharing, and advancing oral history. TOHA is excited to partner with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and El Paso Community College to bring the conference to the Borderplex region. We look forward to bringing TOHA to El Paso and creating space for meaningful conversations around oral history methodologies, practices, and community-based work.
- Dates: Fri, Sept 11 – Sat, Sept 12, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day
- Location: El Paso Community College – Rio Grande Campus, El Paso, TX
- Audience: Historians, folklorists, educators, students, family historians, and local history enthusiasts
Register here: Texas Oral History Association 2026 Conference Tickets, Friday, September 11-Saturday, September 12 • 10 AM-5 PM | Eventbrite
