For more than 20 years, RISD's library and archives have sponsored the recording of oral histories, through video, under the RISD Oral History Project. The project was designed to record, through interviews, the personal stories and reflections of RISD colleagues (faculty, administrators, trustees, and alumni) in order to augment RISD’s historical record.
Past interview subjects include: Yvonne Andersen (FAV), Linda Bowab, (Apparel), Gil Franklin (Sculpture), Tage Frid (Furniture), Malcolm Grear (Graphic Design), Sydney “Bud” Greenwald (Trustee), Robert Hamilton (Painting), Marc Harrison (ID), Baruch Kirschenbaum (THAD), Warren Luther (Architecture), Virginia Lynch (Trustee), Roger Mandle (President), Margaret McGavin (Landscape Architecture), and Jack Prip (Jewelry and Metals). We have also filmed a documentary on the European Honors Program in Rome (2006), featuring students, faculty (Jan Baker, Ezio Genovese).
A first sampling of these interviews can be found here, and we look forward to adding more oral histories soon.
As we continue conducting oral histories, we are interested in extending our documentation to include staff, current students, visiting artists, and more alumni, with the goal of expanding the spectrum of RISD voices and documenting relevant and critical issues of the current moment, including equity and inclusion, health and wellness, sustainability, as well as RISD and the teaching and meaning of art and design. A great example of what we aspire to can be found at the Smithsonian’s Archives American Art Pandemic Oral History Project site. See the May 28, 2020 edition of the Fleet Library See Also Newsletter or visit RISD Archives’ COVID-19 documentation project to learn more.
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Oral History Interview with Stuart Murphy, May 3, 2007
Stuart Murphy, Andrew Martinez, and RISD Archives
Interview of Stuart Murphy, conducted by Andrew Martinez in Providence, RI on May 3, 2007 for European Honors Program (EHP) documentation. Murphy speaks of his experiences as a RISD Illustration student studying in Rome for a year with the European Honors Program (EHP). Murphy also recalls how this program influenced his life and his career in educational publishing. Along with this, Murphy discusses his establishment of RISD Roma, his time as a trustee, and how the EHP program has changed.
Recorded by Peter O'Neill and Andrew Martinez for European Honors Program documentation. Made possible in part through a gift from William Whelan and family in memory of John Whelan, RISD Class of 1937.
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Oral History Interview with Baruch D. Kirschenbaum, February 2, 2006
Baruch D. Kirschenbaum, Andrew Martinez, Al Chin, and RISD Archives
Interview of Baruch (Barry) Kirschenbaum conducted by Andrew Martinez in Kirschenbaum's private residence on February 2, 2006. Kirschenbaum speaks of his experience within art history before coming to RISD and how these influenced his interest in the function of art and the courses he would teach at RISD. Kirschenbaum also recalls different lectures and events he was involved in while at RISD including team teaching courses during Wintersession with Colgate Searle and Gary Metz, cabarets with Szymon Boiko, The Great Slidebox Swap with Dirk Bach, and the European Honors Program (EHP) in Rome. Along with this, Kirschenbaum discusses his role in the court case after the raiding of the Private Parts exhibition by Providence Police and what it was like working under the administration of RISD President Lee Hall.
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Oral History Interview with Sidney F. (Bud) Greenwald, April 18, 2000
Sidney F. (Bud) Greenwald, Louis A. Fazzano, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Sidney (Bud) Greenwald conducted by Louis A. Fazzano from the President's home in Providence, RI on April 18, 2000. Greenwald speaks of how he first became involved with RISD and became a member of the Board of Trustees along with other committees at the institution. Greenwald also recalls how the school changed while under different presidents including Talbot Rantoul, Lee Hall, and Thomas F. Schutte. Along with this, Greenwald discusses his interest in technology and his and Barbara Greenwald's art collection.
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Oral History Interview with Virginia Lynch, April 18, 2000
Virgina Lynch, Ann Hudner, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Virginia Lynch conducted by Ann Hudner from the President's home in Providence, RI on April 18, 2000. Lynch speaks of first becomming involved with the Board of Trustees at RISD and what it was like to work with President Lee Hall. Lynch also recalls professors she worked with or professors who have shown at the Virginia Lynch Gallery along with her appreciation for the RISD Museum. Along with this, Lynch discusses the newly created Virginia Lynch Endowed Minority Scholarship.
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Oral History Interview with Malcom Grear, April 8, 1999
Malcom Grear, David Strout, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Malcolm Grear conducted by David Strout from Grear's home in Rehoboth, MA on April 8, 1999. Grear speaks of his experiences when he first was hired by the Rhode Island School of Design and how the school and the Graphic Design department have changed over the years. Grear also recalls hiring Dieter Roth, working closely with the Photography department, and getting to know Harry Callahan. Along with this, Grear discusses the Raid the Icebox exhibition at the RISD Museum and what it was like working with Andy Warhol.
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Oral History Interview with Warren Luther, June 30, 1999
Warren Luther, Neil Severance, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Warren Luther conducted by Neil Severance from the Ewing Center in Providence, RI on June 30, 1999. Luther speaks of being a chairman of the Architecture department at RISD and the many decisions he made about course structure, such as the creation of Wintersession. Luther also recalls different guest speakers he invited to his classes and the other RISD professors he interacted with. Along with this, Luther discusses the different presidents he worked with, including Albert Bush-Brown and John Frazier.
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Oral History Interview with Margaret McAvin, June 30, 1999
Margaret J. McAvin, Michael Veracka, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Margaret McAvin conducted by Michael Veracka in Providence, RI on June 30, 1999. McAvin speaks of how she first began teaching at RISD in both the Architecture and Landscape Architecture departments with Wilbur Yoder and Colgate Searle. McAvin also recalls what both the graduate and undergraduate students at RISD were like during her time teaching and what for the Wheeler Farm.
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Oral History Interview with Robert Hamilton, March 18, 1998
Robert Hamilton, Bunny Harvey, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Robert Hamilton, conducted by Barbara (Bunny) Harvey from her studio in Providence, RI on March 18, 1998. Hamilton speaks of what the Rhode Island School of Design was like in the 1930s when he first attended the school along with serving in the Air Force during World War II and teaching G.I.s when he returned to RISD. Hamilton also recalls the dynamics of the people he worked under at RISD, like Robert Frazer, Gordon Peers, and Albert Bush-Brown. Along with this, Hamilton discusses his dislike of Conceptual art and how his own work is influenced by jazz and improvisation.
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Oral History Interview with Linda Bowab, July 11, 1997
Linda Bowab, Lorraine Howes, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Linda Bowab conducted by Lorraine Howes at 20 Washington Place in Providence, RI on July 11, 1997. Bowab speaks of what RISD and the Apparel Design department were like when she first began in the 1950s and how they have changed over time. Bowab also recalls different events she was a part of at RISD, such as fashion shows, parties, balls, and a musical performance of The Dolly Sisters. Along with this, Bowab and Howes discuss how fashion has changed and how these changes have been reflected in the department and amongst the faculty.
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Oral History Interview with Tage Frid, January 1997
Tage Frid, Rosanne Somerson, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Tage Frid conducted by Rosanne Somerson in Frid's home on January 1, 1997. Frid speaks of his time building houses in Iceland and working in Denmark before moving to the United States to teach. Frid also recalls opening Shop One in Rochester and working with many of his former students. Along with this, Frid discusses what he values in woodworking and design with a model of one of his chairs.
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Oral History Interview with Marc Harrison, July 11, 1997
Marc Harrison, David Kessler, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Marc Harrison conducted by David Kessler from the Universal Kitchen Project studio in Providence, RI on July 11, 1997. Harrison speaks of his time as a graduate student at the Cranbrook Academy of Art before being asked to teach in the Industrial Design department at RISD by Pierre Kleykamp. Harrison also recalls the focus on diversity, accessibility, and individuality within ID and the students in the program. Along with this, Harrison discusses projects he has worked on through RISD such as a blood mobile project for the Red Cross, the ILZRO Project, and the Universal Kitchen Project along with his own work for Cuisinart.
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Oral History Interview with Jack Prip, January 3, 1997
Jack Prip, Jonathan Bonner, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Jack Prip conducted by Jonathan Bonner from Prip's studio in Rehoboth, MA on January 3, 1997. Prip speaks of his experiences in Rochester before moving to RISD and teaching G.I.s in the Industrial Design and Jewelry + Metalsmithing departments. Prip also recalls his colleagues at RISD, such as Tage Frid and Norm Schulman. Along with this, Prip discusses the crafts movements in the United States and how the Metals and Glass departments changed during his time at RISD.
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Oral History Interview with Gilbert (Gil) Franklin, March 18, 1996
Gil Franklin, Andrew Martinez, RISD Archives, and Frank Muhly
Interview of Gilbert (Gil) Franklin, conducted by Jack Massey at the Virginia Lynch Gallery in Tiverton, RI on March 18, 1996 for the RISD Oral History Project. Franklin speaks of his time in the Sculpture department at RISD, as both a student and a professor, along with other departments which were forming such as the Ceramics, Glass, and Photography departments. Franklin also recalls his time at the American Academy in Rome and the beginnings of the RISD European Honors Program.