There is no central oral history collection in Devon, but various projects have been collecting oral history as well as folk music. This page gives details of a number of these but it should be noted that most have limited access and listening facilities for the public. The compiler would be grateful for additional or updated information on any of these collections, which were often complied as special projects and whose current status is unclear.

BBC RADIO DEVON - ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
No listening facilities, internal and limited educational purposes only.

BARBICAN ARCHIVE
Documentation of the Sutton Harbour area [recent details unavailable]

BEAFORD CENTRE. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Dan Whistler's collection of 20 tapes (reel to reel c1975) now deposited in North Devon Record Office. The Beaford Centre now operates purely as an arts centre.

BIDEFORD COMMUNITY ARCHIVE. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Appointment required. Tapes of Bideford and district

BRIXHAM MUSEUM. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
[recent details unavailable]
No listening facilities. Prior application. 12 tapes

DARTINGTON RURAL ARCHIVE
70 hours of tapes on life in South Devon. Prior enquiry advised.

DAWLISH ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Set up by grant in 2003, based in Dawlish Museum.

DARTMOOR ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Set up by Dartmoor National Park Authority. CD-ROMs of extracts have been published.

DEVON RECORD OFFICE. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
No listening facilities. By appointment. 15 hours WI tapes

EXETER HEALTH AUTHORITY
By appointment. Oral history of three Exeter Hospitals [recent details unavailable]

EXETER PHOENIX. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
No listening facilities. Appointment only. Exeter reminiscences [recent details unavailable]

HOLSWORTHY LOCAL HISTORY RESEARCH GROUP ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Compiled under MSC, located Holsworthy Local History Centre

ILFRACOMBE AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY ARCHIVE
No listening facilities. By appointment. 150 hours [recent details unavailable]

NEWTON ABBOT HUMANITIES RESOURCES
Resource material on life in South Devon for schools [recent details unavailable]

NORTH DEVON MARITIME MUSEUM ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Project to collect maritime history [recent details unavailable]

OKEHAMPTON COMMUNITY ARCHIVE
60 tapes. Copies in Okehampton and Westcountry Studies Libraries

PLYMOUTH AND SOUTH DEVON COOPERATIVE HISTORY PROJECT
Interviews on co-operative history [recent details unavailable]

PLYMOUTH LOCAL HISTORY LIBRARY. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
No listening facilities. 20 discs, 40 tapes

SAM RICHARDS FOLKLORE ARCHIVE
Deposied at the School of Humanities and Cultural Interpretation in the Exmouth Campus of the University of Plymouth, this consists of 500 hours of tapes of folksongs and speech collected by Sam Richards over a period of twenty years. Accessible by appointment for research purposes whether scholars, teachers, students or general public.

SOUTH MOLTON AND DISTRICT ARCHIVE. ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Prior application. 20 tapes [recent details unavailable]

TAW VALLEY HISTORY ARCHIVE
Prior appointment. History of Central Devon, size unknown [recent details unavailable]

TEIGNBRIDGE ARCHIVE
Oral & photographic history of Teignbridge. Final location uncertain [recent details unavailable]

TOTNES COMMUNITY ARCHIVE
200 hours of recordings under Manpower Services Commission scheme

TURNING POINT THEATRE COMPANY
Produced as research for plays. Third age involvement. Confidential [recent details unavailable]

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
Prior appointment. Starcross Hospital. 30 tapes, typescripts [recent details unavailable]

PLYMOUTH AND WEST DEVON RECORD OFFICE
[recent details unavailable]
No listening facilities. Appointment. 25 discs, videos

WESTCOUNTRY STUDIES LIBRARY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Limited listening facilities. Appointment required. 100 tapes, 6 discs. Includes Okehampton Community Archive

WREN TRUST
1 St James Street, Okehampton EX20 1DW
Tel: Okehampton (01837) 53754
Wren Trust is a community folk arts project working throughout Devon, & the counties of the South West, stimulating appreciation of & active participation in folk music & its related disciplines It does this by delivering a programme of workshops, performances & community projects, working with all ages in a range of educational, community & institutional settings as well as conventional arts & folk venues. Reg. Charity No: 297257.