The Oral History Unit was our core team of internationally recognised oral historians, with specialist interests in social justice, labour, rural, and women’s history, as well as medical humanities. The team was based in Newcastle University's School of History, Classics and Archaeology, when the unit was established in 2017.

From 2018, our core team consisted of oral historians with experience across academic and community settings. Together, the team brought together many years of local, national, and international experience and expertise. This included working in development oral history, labour history, memory studies, heritage, and the history of inequalities. Collectively, the team built a portfolio of work that promoted the transformative power of oral history practice and theory. 

The Unit was led by Professor Graham Smith with three research associates: Dr Alison Atkinson-Phillips, Sue Bradley, and Dr Andy Clark, and four associate researchers: Rosie Bush, Silvie Fisch, Dr Kath Smith, and Liz O'Donnell. 

Siobhan Warrington joined as a Senior Research Associate 2019-'24 on the Living Deltas Research Hub, before assuming an Associate Researcher's position with the Collective. Alison and Andy moved on to new and more secure lecturing contracts in Australia in 2023, and Scotland in 2024, respectively. In these years, we were also ably supported by our blog editor and student Communications Intern Charlotte Stobart. Charlotte was succeeded in this role by Ed Garnett 2024-'25, and Lily Tidman 2025'-26.

New Associate Researchers were appointed, replacing Rosie and Kath between 2022-'24. Dr Jack Hepworth replaced Alison in an associated public history lecturing role, and Dr Joe Redmayne joined as a Research Associate working on the Women and Shipbuilding project with Historic England 2023-'24, before winning a Leverhulme fellowship in 2025.