On June 6th during the opening remarks of the Oral History Society’s 2025 Annual Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, OHS Chair John Gabriel presented to OHA Associate Director Steven Sielaff a Statement of Support on behalf of the trustees and members of the Oral History Society. In this statement, OHS (the leading heritage organization for oral history in the United Kingdom) “stands with our colleagues working in archives, libraries, museums, universities and cultural institutions across the United States of America who are experiencing attacks on their professions.” They also echo a litany of concerns raised for the profession by other associations such as the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums (ATALM), and the American Library Association (ALA).
At the ceremony, AD Sielaff provided conference attendees not only with a summary of actions taken by the United States government that have adversely affected oral historians, but also responses the OHA have and will take to support their membership during this trying time. “I wanted to highlight the work OHA leadership and volunteers have already done, such as arranging our Community Support Spaces and committing to a record number of scholarships for the 2025 Annual Meeting, to let our colleagues across the pond know that we are committed to both listening to and supporting our membership during this trying time.”
OHA President Troy Reeves adds, “We appreciate the time & effort taken by our OHS colleagues to craft and publish these powerful and thoughtful words. It is comforting to know our friends ‘across the pond’ stand united with us as we confront these frustrating & disturbing times.”