Location and hours
We recommend the Askwith Media Library, located on the 2nd floor of the Shapiro Undergraduate Library at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor as the best location to view Visual History Archive testimonies. Access to the archive is also available to visitors at any UM Library. Hours at each library may vary. Please check the hours of the library you intend to visit here.
Requesting Testimonies
Visual History Archive testimonies usually take less than an hour to transfer from the server at the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, though on occassion they do take longer. If you are requesting multiple testimonies, these will transfer in the order requested. If you have limited time for your viewing or have several known testimonies to view, please contact svha.help@umich.edu for help with requesting testimonies in advance of your visit.
Viewing Testimonies
Plan ample time for viewing testimonies. Testimonies range in length from 2-4 hours on average, though you can move to individual sections within the testimonies as needed.
Getting Started
See the Getting Started tab in this guide for detailed instructions on searching and viewing testimonies.
Copies of testimonies
The archive does not allow for coping snippets or downloading complete testimonies. If you need a copy of a specific testimony, USC Shoah Foundation Institute directly at vhi-web@usc.edu.