Oral History Projects (2010, 2014–18)

In 2010, a preliminary oral history project, “Interviews with Rauschenberg Friends and Associates,” was undertaken by Karen Thomas of Film Odyssey at the request of the Robert Rauschenberg Revocable Trust. Transcripts can be found below under “Additional Transcripts.”

From 2014 to 2018, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, New York, in collaboration with INCITE/Columbia Center for Oral History Research, undertook the Robert Rauschenberg Oral History Project. This collection of firsthand accounts by the artist’s family, friends, and collaborators is housed here on the Foundation's website. For each oral history, an illustrated PDF of the entire transcript is provided. Some of the oral histories also include a short biography of the narrator, an excerpt from the interview transcript, documentary photography, and/or a short video or audio clip. Transcripts may also be viewed at the INCITE website and in Columbia University's Rare Books and Manuscript Library, New York. The book Robert Rauschenberg: An Oral History, which compiles the interviews into a collaborative oral biography, was published by Columbia University Press in 2019.

Preferred citation:
NAME OF INTERVIEWEE, oral history interview by INTERVIEWER, DATE, Oral History Project, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Archives, New York.

Stories Project (ongoing)

The Foundation continues to seek out firsthand accounts of the artist. Some of these can be found below under "Additional Transcripts." 

Preferred citation:
NAME OF INTERVIEWEE, interview by INTERVIEWER, DATE, Stories Project, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Archives, New York.

We recognize that there may be people with stories to tell about Rauschenberg of whom we are not yet aware. Should you have a noteworthy story to share related to the artist, please write to us at archives@rauschenbergfoundation.org.