Interview, Anita Reichard, 2001 December 11

The papers of Alicia D'Addario consist of her history honors paper, "In Search of Community: The Oberlin Student Movement, 1961-68," and related historical files and oral history interviews. The papers are arranged in three series: I. Honors Thesis, II. Historical Files, and III. Oral History Interviews.

D'Addario did extensive research in the Oberlin College Archives for her honors paper, which looks at the New Left from the perspective of a small liberal arts college. In her paper she focuses on the conception of community at Oberlin during Robert Kenneth Carr's presidency, and on the campus debates about college social rules, civil rights, and the Vietnam war. She also briefly discusses the transition of the radical student movement into identity politics at Oberlin.

In the course of her research, D'Addario was given a modest amount of historical material relating to Oberlin student activism and demonstrations. They include a pamphlet and photocopied conference material on the National Campus Political Conference which was held at Oberlin College on April 13-15, 1962, and a pamphlet and photocopied newspaper clippings on the "Student Action for a Turn Toward Peace," demonstration in Washington, D.C. on February 16-17, 1962.  Also found here is an audiotape of broadcasts by the Oberlin College student radio station WOBC. These broadcasts document student demonstrations about student housing issues ("March, Arch & Vigil," May 8, 1967) and demonstrations in response to a visit by United States Marine Corps recruiters ("Carr Confronted at Cox," February 20, 1969).

The final, and largest, series contains audiotapes of oral history interviews with former faculty and alumni who were members of the Oberlin community in the 1960s. In addition to the audiotapes, there are release forms for the use of each of the interviews, partial transcripts of the majority of the interviews, and correspondence. The correspondents include participants in the oral history interviews and other Oberlin alumni who provided additional information.