Detail of 1920s dance orchestra from The Music of Black Americans, 1st edition
The oral history interviews on this page were conducted from 2019 to 2021 by Harvard graduate students. An initial round of interviews took place at the 85th annual meeting of the American Musicological Society in Boston, Massachusetts during November 2019. Once COVID-19 descended, additional interviews took place via Zoom. We extend our thanks to those who shared their reflections on Eileen Southern and her scholarship, providing a rich context for understanding her work and legacy.
Eileen Southern and The Music of Black Americans: The Oral History Project
Highlights from our collection of oral history interviews
Interview with Candace Allen about Harvard in the 1970s and Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, Eloy Ramirez, and Sara Speller, February 12, 2024, Harvard Media Production Studio
Interview with T.J. Anderson about Eileen Southern
Interview by Chris Benham, Andrew Guerrero, and Jewel Pereyra, October 29, 2019, Harvard Media Production Studio
Interview with Naomi André about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, May 20, 2021, Zoom
Interview with Edward Berlin about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, April 7, 2021, Zoom
Interview with Johann Buis about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, November 2, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Marva Carter about Eileen Southern
Interview by Ethan Goodnight and Julia Harris, November 1, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Betty Hillmon about Eileen Southern
Interview by Sharri K. Hall and Siriana Lundgren, November 13, 2020, Zoom
Interview with Derek Katz about Eileen Southern
Interview by Ethan Goodnight, November 1, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Tammy Kernodle about Eileen Southern
Interview by Samuel Ross Budnyk, November 1, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Portia Maultsby about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, February 4, 2021, Zoom
Interview with Daniel Melamed about Eileen Southern
Interview by Julia Harris, November 1, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Gayle Murchison about Eileen Southern
Interview by Michael Ortiz, November 2, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Michael Ochs about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, November 2, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Thomas Riis about Eileen Southern
Interview by Mattlyn Cordova, November 1, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Henry Rosovsky about Eileen Southern
Interview by Sharri K. Hall and Siriana Lundgren, December 15, 2020, telephone
Interview with Rosita Sands about Eileen Southern
Interview by Sharri K. Hall and Siriana Lundgren, January 19, 2021, Zoom
Interview with Kay Shelemay about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, May 24, 2021, Zoom
Interview with Wayne Shirley about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, March 26, 2021, telephone
Interview with Anne Shreffler about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, November 2, 2019, 85th meeting of the American Musicological Society, Boston, MA
Interview with Christoph Wolff about Eileen Southern
Interview by Siriana Lundgren, March 10, 2021, Zoom
Interview with Josephine Wright about Eileen Southern