Oral histories

The oral history collection at Royal Museums Greenwich records people's experiences of the sea and memories of maritime events.

‘Noted for its ability to capture personal memories and preserve stories usually overlooked in traditional records, oral history was felt to be the perfect tool to collect the testimonies of those connected to the sea through work, recreation, migration and conflict,’ explains Lucy Dale, Curator of Maritime and Digital Collections.

The earliest recordings date back to the 1970s, with a collection of tapes exploring the experiences of seafarers active from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. These recordings have been digitised and a busy team of staff and volunteers is working hard to make them accessible. At the same time curators are actively acquiring new oral histories for the collection, working to record diverse experiences of people connected to the sea. 

‘As of 2026 we have added 117 oral histories to the permanent collection, comprising around 350 hours of individual reminiscences,’ Dale says. ‘These stories cover everything from apprenticeships during the age of sail, through to veterans of the Falklands conflict, pioneering women of the Merchant Navy and shipwreck.’

We are grateful to everyone who has participated in this ongoing project. If you think you may have a story to share, email research@rmg.co.uk. Please note that the team is small so may not be able to respond immediately.