The Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies is a Yale University database containing over 4,400 interviews with Holocaust survivors and eyewitnesses. Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, this collection is a valuable historical source for research and teaching and an important tool for the culture of remembrance.
Especially in times of political polarisation and the rise of right-wing ideologies, insight into the fates of individuals against the backdrop of historical events can help to promote empathy and understanding. Focussing on the personal stories of Holocaust survivors emphasises the dangers posed by divisive ideologies, racism and xenophobia.
Scope
Founded in 1981 by Yale University Library, the video archive is considered a pioneer of videotaped oral history. It now comprises over 4,400 interviews in 22 languages with over 12,000 hours of material. The interviews were conducted in the eyewitnesses' preferred language and last between 30 minutes and 40 hours.
Among other things, the interviewees talk about persecution under National Socialism, survival in hiding and in the extermination camps, as well as their experiences in the resistance. The 22 languages used include German, English, and Hebrew, as well as less frequently spoken idioms, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the eyewitnesses. The accounts cover a wide geographical range, and in addition to the stories of Jews, the collection also includes accounts from other people persecuted under National Socialism, such as Sinti and Roma/Romnja, Jehovah's Witnesses and political prisoners.
Access
The University of Graz is one of 232 sites in 34 countries with access to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Users need to register the first time they access the database:
- Go to the login page at https://fortunoff.aviaryplatform.com/users/sign_in. Click on Don't have an account? Join now! at the bottom right (you may need to scroll down).
- Enter your university email address and a personalised password.
- Confirm your registration by clicking on the activation link sent to your email.
- Log in again.
- Please note: the first time you want to play a video, you will need to click Request Access and select a reason from the drop-down menu (research, general interest, etc.).
- You will immediately receive a confirmation email and will have access to all videos each time you log in after that.
Searching
Under Resources on the menu, you can carry out simple and advanced searches. Using the filter options on the left, you can restrict the search results to, for example, specific periods, geographical areas, languages, or keywords. You can find tips on searching the database under Fortunoff Archive Search and Use Tips.
Under Collections, you will find various compilations of video interviews and other materials, including Where Is Our Homeland? Songs From Testimonies in the Fortunoff Video Archive, with songs remembered by interviewees.
In the Playlists section, videos are grouped into categories, such as Yiddish Language Testimonies.
To access your profile, click on your name in the top right-hand corner. Here, you can access, amongst other things, your saved search queries and resources.
You must be registered (free of charge) to use the database. The University Library accepts no liability for the provider’s processing of your data.
Please pay attention to both the publisher’s and the university library’s terms of use.
The database is accessible from anywhere on campus via unikat and DBIS (switch to English at the top of the page). University members can access it remotely via VPN. Please note: enter https://univpn.uni-graz.at/ub in the VPN address field.
Have you discovered our video tutorials on unikat, literature research and literature management? We also offer training courses during the semester. You can find more information under Support & Courses.
If you have any questions about this database, please contact ub.zeitschriften(at)uni-graz.at.