Politixia
History major Kaysha Kovadia spent her summer expanding the North Carolina Women’s Oral History Collection by interviewing women from the Triangle’s South Asian community.
The North Carolina Women’s Oral History Collection is a collaboration of Meredith’s history program and Carlyle Campbell Library. The collection includes nearly 400 interviews that have mostly been conducted by Meredith undergraduates since 2018. Library Co-Director Carrie Nichols oversees its management within the library’s holdings.
Kovadia’s work was funded by the history program with funds remaining from the Legacies of American Slavery grant that the College received in 2020.
“Kaysha’s work will become a permanent part of the College’s growing oral history collection and represents an effort to document the increasing diversity of North Carolina,” said Professor of History Dan Fountain.
Kovadia interviewed South Asian women who are active in Triangle-area communities.
“The goals of this project are to expand on oral history and introduce more South Asian stories into the database, as there had been a previous gap with this specific demographic,” said Kovadia. “Some of the women I have interviewed include medical professionals, legal professionals, those seeking office, and innovators in the community and their respective career fields. I hope to continue to interview more women who are key members of their communities who help lead in a variety of ways.”
As a history major and public history minor, Kovadia appreciated the opportunity to expand the oral histories included in Meredith’s collection.
“This project has allowed me to make a noticeable addition to an area of history that had been previously unfilled, something I hope to continue in my academic and professional career,” Kovadia said. “The project exposed me to a lot of new experiences and to also helped me think retrospectively about both history and the courses of individual life. It has also been influential in allowing me to acknowledge how many wonderful women shape the community around me.”
Kovadia became interested in working on the N.C. Women’s Oral History Collection when she collected her grandmother’s oral history for Fountain’s North Carolina History course.
“I really enjoyed the process, and it strengthened my passion for oral history,” Kovadia said.
After she completes her Meredith degree, Kovadia plans to attend law school. Working on the oral history project helped her build skills that will be useful in her future career.
“I have learned to interview and to think of questions quickly that expand on what individuals have said. These skills have allowed me to connect more with the women I interview,” Kovadia said. “I have been able to strengthen my ability to listen and take key points away from the women I am fortunate enough to interview.”
Learn more about the oral history collections at Carlyle Campbell Library
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings