For nearly two decades, Dr. Theriot has been involved in public history projects sponsored by governmental entities and private and nonprofit organizations. Utilizing oral history interview sessions and historical research, these projects capture the history of organizations and communities for a broad public audience. The finished products result in sizable collections of oral history interviews and published material (digital and print). Some of these public history projects include histories of Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the Offshore Energy Center’s Hall of Fame (click here). All of these oral history interview collections are housed at the University of Houston Special Collections Library. Dr. Theriot’s WWII Oral History collection, which resulted in the publication of a three-volume series, has been digitized and is housed at the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.
FEATURED PROJECT
Oral History of the Port of Houston and Ship Channel
In 2006, historian Jason Theriot conducted a series of oral history interviews with individuals with a long history working at the Port of Houston and on the ship channel. They worked as port captains, ship pilots, commissioners, and longshoremen. They talk about working on Liberty Ships during WWII and how the petrochemical industry dramatically expanded in the post-war years. They talk about the challenges of growth, handling bigger ships, diversity of the maritime culture, changing attitudes toward improving water quality and the environment. These are the people who invented and perfected the art of the "Texas Chicken." Their knowledge of past events and experiences in the maritime industry provides a compelling narrative story about the history of this world-class port.
To listen to the voices of these pioneers, click the Read More button:
