Yes, some museums have pursued oral history programs.  The Smithsonian Institution Archives has conducted an oral history program for some years, interviewing Smithsonian curators, scholars, and administrators.  I believe they videotape interviews rather than just audiotaping, although I may be wrong about that.  I have no connection with the program and have not been the subject of an interview, but I can put you in touch with the director of the program if you're interested, Timothy.

 

In addition, the Smithsonian has recently sponsored several predoctoral fellowships for studies of Smithsonian history.  As the coordinator of a colloquium series at the National Museum of American History, I've had these students deliver papers based on their dissertations.  Interesting stuff.  While they are specific to Smithsonian history, they also document in a more general sense changing concepts of museum collecting and exhibition programs, cultural values, etc.

 

(Personally, I'm writing a memoir about my museum career, rather thinly disguised as an analysis of successful and unsuccessful management, perhaps to be published after I retire.  Or possibly a posthumous publication!)

 

David Haberstich