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A group of brown pelicans with long beaks and dark plumage gathered closely together, standing on a light surface. The background consists of a warm-toned, textured wall.
Oral History

All Things Both Great and Small

Interviews from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster - MSS 622

The result of HNOC's partnership with agencies involved in wildlife rescue operations following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Images of oil-covered pelicans and sea turtles during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico spurred urgent and emotional animal rescue efforts. HNOC partnered with agencies involved in wildlife rescue operations in Louisiana to interview officials and volunteers who planned and carried out these rescue operations. The project not only documents the response but also explores the participants’ connection to nature.

Documenting the Deepwater Horizon Disaster

2011 0153 1 20100611 Fort Jackson LA KM050 web
Pelicans affected by the oil spill. HNOC, 2011.0153
2011 0153 20100611 Fort Jackson LA KM097 web
Volunteers washing pelicans. HNOC, 2011.0153
2011 0153 20100611 Fort Jackson LA KM077 web
Volunteers washing pelicans. HNOC, 2011.0153
2011 0153 20100611 Fort Jackson LA KM111 web
Pelicans after being cleaned. HNOC, 2011.0153
Oil spill cleanup efforts at Fort Jackson, 2011, photos by Keely Merritt, HNOC

Explore the Interviews

All the interviews are available in their entirety through our online catalog. To access full audio and transcripts of the oral histories, click the links beneath the contributor names below, which will take you to each corresponding catalog page. Scroll down to the View Online field to find links to audio and transcript files.

Contributors

Robert Barham

Jean A. Beaston

Harry Blanchet

Jack Bohannan

Joey Broussard

Marianne Burke

Michael Carloss

Joel Courtney

Pon Dixson

Carol Foil

James LaCour

Eric Liffmann

Ken Litzenberger

Jeff Mayne

Randy Pausina

Renee Poirrier

Bart Siegel

Mandy Tumlin

Drew Wirwa

Explore More Oral Histories

Research

Oral History

HNOC’s oral history program preserves diverse personal narratives, fostering a richer collective memory through interviews and vignettes. 

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Three people sit inside a diner. From left to right: a man in a white shirt and cap, a man in a dark jacket and hat, and an elderly woman in a dress with a cane. They are seated around a small table with chairs. The setting is cozy and vintage.

Related Exhibitions

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Related Stories

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First Draft

From the Sky, There’s No Denying Louisiana’s Disappearing Coastline

Photographer Ben Depp uses a paraglider to capture wetland views that are as beautiful as they are alarming. 

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First Draft

The Dragons of Norco

The game developer Yuts and photographer Richard Sexton discuss the complicated beauty of Louisiana’s industrial corridor.

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Related Collection Highlights

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Flood State 048, 2017, photogravure on Japanese kozo paper by Jennifer Shaw.

Flood State

Artist Jennifer Shaw evokes the specter of climate disaster in this photographic series.

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A tintype photo shows Caliste Martinez Fucich and S. M. Fucich seated next to each other.

Fucich Family Papers 

In 1867, Sam Fucich immigrated from Croatia to south Louisiana. His seafood business helped grow the industry. 

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A view from above of a faded white model of a space shuttle, connected to its large fuel tank and rocket boosters . The model is "blank" without details on any features except for the rocket nozzles and is set against a black background.

Space Shuttle Model

A model rocket serves as a memento of New Orleans’s role in US space exploration.

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Related Virtual Exhibitions

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Virtual exhibitions

Enigmatic Stream: Industrial Landscapes of the Lower Mississippi River

Photographs by Richard Sexton capture the essence of a complicated, often mysterious section of the country’s largest waterway.

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A serene, monochrome seascape with large cargo ships in the distance. A lone figure walks through shallow water in the foreground, under a cloudy sky, creating a peaceful yet dramatic scene.

Related Books

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A black and white photo captures a crowd of people outside a vintage building. Many wear sunglasses and hats, while some hold umbrellas. The scene is lively, with a mix of adults and children. Text above and below highlights a photo exhibit by Douglas Baz and Charles H. Traub.

Cajun Document: Acadiana, 1973–74

by Douglas Baz and Charles H. Traub

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Cover of a book titled Perique featuring a black and white photograph of elderly hands, one holding tobacco leaves while the other sprinkles shredded tobacco. The book is by Charles Martin, part of The Historic New Orleans Collection.

Perique: Photographs by Charles Martin

with essays by Mary Ann Sternberg and John H. Lawrence

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A black and white book cover titled Enigmatic Stream by Richard Sexton, featuring a glowing industrial facility with smoke against a night sky. Text mentions essays by Paul Schneider and John H. Lawrence, focusing on the Lower Mississippi River.

Enigmatic Stream: Industrial Landscapes of the Lower Mississippi River

by Richard Sexton
with essays by Paul Schneider and John H. Lawrence

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