Center for the Study of Work Henry Ford Community College

The Center for the Study of Work has been compiling oral histories of working people for the past five years.  These oral histories give voice to the experience, struggle, and wisdom of working people in a variety of work contexts: manufacturing, health care, technology, service, and various professions.  The purpose of this project is to make a lasting record of their knowledge and understanding. 

Visitors to these archives can learn about skill and training issues as they pertain to a particular line of work.   They can learn about the human experience of work, its costs and benefits to individuals, families, and communities.  Bibliographic citations enlarge the significance of these documents.  Photograph exhibits invite visitors to link visual images with verbal accounts of work. 

In the interest of facilitating use of these documents, each oral history is formatted with a brief summary, outline, links to significant passages, critical commentary, and bibliography.  We invite visitors to submit commentary for consideration.