Vanderscoff Oral History
Changing how history is remembered,
one story at a time.
Changing how history is remembered, One Story at a Time
Cameron Vanderscoff
Oral Historian ~ Writer
Preserving Stories. To Remember the Lives, Times, & Innovations of Human History.
Why does your Oral History Matter?
People often ask IF their story ~ about their life or their work ~ is important enough to be told.
First-person stories open a rare window into a time in history — only you can tell it best. So, YES, preserve your LifeStory.
Cameron Vanderscoff
Oral Historian ~ Writer
Preserving Stories.
To Remember the Lives, Times, & Innovations of Human History.
Let’s talk about your story.
Why does your Oral History Matter?
People ask if their story is important enough to be told.
Yes, preserve your LifeStory. First-person stories give a rare window into a time in history unique to you. Save your story memoir for your family, community or business–and some like to share & sell with the public.
Let’s talk about your story idea.
Let’s talk about your story idea.
What's new - Oral History?
Do you like Oral Histories? Cameron posts projects and events that are catching his attention. Guaranteed to open doors to exciting people, places, times in our world.
Oral History Projects
RECENT BOOK RELEASE
Land Below, Sky Above
An Oral History of Stanley Clifford Henjum I
BOOK ONE: Roots, 1921-1935
by Clifford Henjum and Cameron Vanderscoff
Book One is the first installment of Mr. Henjum’s oral history in words and images, exploring his early years 1921-1935 growing up on the family farm through the Depression and Dust Bowl. The full book series traces his remarkable 100 year life story, from his beginnings as a farmboy in rural Minnesota to his career in service of his country in WW2, then as an aerospace engineer in the space industry, and as a son and family man throughout.
THE EMPTY YEAR
An OralHistory of the Pandemic(s) of 2020 at University of California at Santa Cruz
by Cameron Vanderscoff and Irene Reti
At the University of California, Santa Cruz and across the world, 2020 was a year of not just the COVID-19 pandemic, but pandemics, plural. In addition to COVID-19, the CZU Lightning Complex fires exploded across Santa Cruz County. While these pandemics can be mapped and tracked and tallied with numbers, for it to be understood and felt for many, if not most people, we need stories. A collection of twenty-two oral history interviews exploring the ways people have encountered and interpreted this time.
Seeds of Something Different
An Oral History of the University of California at Santa Cruz
By Irene Reti,
Cameron Vanderscoff,
Sarah Rabkin
This two volume oral history on this innovative public university, chronicles the first 50 years of UCSC through more than 200 first person oral histories. The cover image by famed photographer Ansel Adams, starts the journey into a treasure trove of archival images that are featured in this book to illustrate the stories being told.
Print and eBook
Radio INTERVIEW
Cameron Vanderscoff talks with Richard Eeds | Host, Richard Eeds Radio Show, Santa Fe
1260 KTRC Talk Radio
April 7, 2020
MULTIMEDIA & ORAL HISTORY
UCSC HOSTS Virtual series
Seeds of something different Weekly series
Hosted by Irene Reti,
Cameron Vanderscoff,
Sarah Rabkin WITH guest speakers
6 part weekly online series focused on a different era of this forward thinking university, exploring the book, Seeds of Something Different, An Oral History of the University of California at Santa Cruz. Open to public, students, alumni, educators, parents. FREE.
A History of Creativity and Change: Six Sessions
A Pioneering Era and The Rising Counterculture (1960s)
Guest Commentators: Frank Zwart and Ed Landesman
The Changing City on a Hill (1970s)
Guest Commentator: J. Herman Blake
Rocks Ahead: Reorganization of the College System (1980s)
Guest Commentators: Bill Domhoff and George Blumenthal
Open the Door: Finding a Place on "A Very White Campus" (1990s)
Guest Commentators: Bettina Aptheker and Rosie Cabrera
A Research University with Experimental Roots (2000-2010)
Guest Commentators: Murray Baumgarten and Gary Griggs
"For Times We Can't Imagine" (2010-2020)
Guest Commentators: Jim Clifford, Donna Haraway, Nirupama Chandrasekhar, Stephen Yogi
In The Press & Oral History
SF Chronicle: Datebook
How Ansel Adams saw UC Santa Cruz
By Sam Whitling
Photographer’s vision of new campus fills two-volume work. Ansel Adams, Campus Photographer, featured in new book on UC Santa Cruz. “Already one of the most famous photographers in the world, Adams had come to Santa Cruz on assignment…”
Wednesday, June 10, 2010, San Francisco Chronicle
What's New?
Do you like Oral Histories? Cameron posts Oral History Projects. Guaranteed to open doors to people, places, times.
Oral History BOOKS
Land Below, Sky Above
An Oral History of Stanley Clifford Henjum I
BOOK ONE: Roots, 1921-1935
by Clifford Henjum
and Cameron Vanderscoff
BOOK ONE is the first installment of Mr. Henjum’s oral history in words and images, exploring his early years 1921-1935 growing up on the family farm through the Depression and Dust Bowl. The full book series traces his remarkable 100 year life story, from his beginnings as a farmboy in rural Minnesota to his career in service of his country in WW2, then as an aerospace engineer in the space industry, and as a son and family man throughout.
THE EMPTY YEAR
An OralHistory of the Pandemic(s) of 2020 at University of California at Santa Cruz
by Cameron Vanderscoff and Irene Reti
At the University of California, Santa Cruz and across the world, 2020 was a year of not just the COVID-19 pandemic, but pandemics, plural. In addition to COVID-19, the CZU Lightning Complex fires exploded across Santa Cruz County. While these pandemics can be mapped and tracked and tallied with numbers, for it to be understood and felt for many, if not most people, we need stories. A collection of twenty-two oral history interviews exploring the ways people have encountered and interpreted this time.
Hardcover: 554 pages
Radio INTERVIEW
Cameron Vanderscoff talks with Richard Eeds about “Seeds of Something Different”| Host, Richard Eeds Radio Show, Santa Fe, 1260 KTRC Talk Radio, April 7, 2020
Seeds of Something Different: An Oral History of the University of California at Santa Cruz
By Irene Reti,
Cameron Vanderscoff,
Sarah Rabkin
This just-released two volume oral history on this innovative public university, chronicles the first 50 years of UCSC through more than 200 first person oral histories. Available in Print and eBook.
MULTIMEDIA
UCSC Virtual series
Seeds of something different Weekly series
Hosted by
Irene Reti
Cameron Vanderscoff
Sarah Rabkin
WITH guest speakers
6 part weekly online series focused on a different era 1960’s – 2020 of this forward thinking university. Open to public, students, alumni, educators, parents. FREE.
A History of Creativity and Change in Six Sessions
A Pioneering Era and The Rising Counterculture (1960s)
Guest Commentators: Frank Zwart and Ed Landesman
The Changing City on a Hill (1970s)
Guest Commentator: J. Herman Blake
Rocks Ahead: Reorganization of the College System (1980s)
Guest Commentators: Bill Domhoff and George Blumenthal
Open the Door: Finding a Place on "A Very White Campus" (1990s)
Guest Commentators: Bettina Aptheker and Rosie Cabrera
A Research University with Experimental Roots (2000-2010)
Guest Commentators: Murray Baumgarten and Gary Griggs
"For Times We Can't Imagine" (2010-2020)
Guest Commentators: Jim Clifford and Donna Haraway, Nirupama Chandrasekhar, Stephen Yogi
How to Start telling your story?
About Cameron Vanderscoff
Cameron Vanderscoff is an oral historian and writer consulting and managing projects for individuals and institutions throughout the U.S. and internationally. He holds an MA in Oral History from Columbia University, focusing his consulting work on best practices to collect and preserve stories for his clients.
He is co-editor of the celebrated new oral history “Seeds of Something Different” chronicling the fifty year story of the University of California at Santa Cruz and its experimentation in public education. As co-founder of the Okinawa Memories Initiative, he is developing oral histories for dialogue, research and education.
He works with The Narrative Trust, and his versatile portfolio also includes projects with Columbia University, the Apollo Theatre and multimedia webinars, courses and presentations to reach new audiences.
Cameron has conducted oral history projects focused on diverse topics, including education, science and technology, aerospace, business, theatre, farming, music, WW2 history, and most recently took a deep dive into the acclaimed art world of Robert Rauschenberg for the book, “Robert Rauschenberg: An Oral History”. Cameron is based in New York and is active in the Oral History Association.
About Cameron Vanderscoff
Cameron Vanderscoff is an oral historian, writer, and educator working on projects with the Narrative Trust, Columbia University, the Apollo Theatre, and other individuals, businesses and institutions. He earned an MA in Oral History from Columbia and has consulted widely across the U.S. and internationally. He is co-editor of the book, “Seeds of Something Different: An Oral History of the University of California at Santa Cruz”. His oral history work has ranged from topics in history, education, technology, business, theatre and most recently took a deep dive into art through oral histories for the book “Robert Rauschenberg: An Oral History”. Cameron is co-founder of the Okinawa Memories Initiative, a UCSC Center chronicling oral and visual histories for study and curriculum.
Online & In-person
We offer interviews online via Online videoconferencing during the current world virus safety restrictions. We make it easy for you to feel at ease knowing your story is being saved.
Thank you for visiting
Vanderscoff Oral History
Changing how History is remembered.
One story at a time.