Fordham Oral History Project

Oral history project logo over students walking on rose hill campus

Every Fordham graduate has a story, and we want to hear yours!

With more than 200,000 alumni worldwide, we believe that every member of the Ramily has a unique story to tell about their time at Fordham. That’s why Fordham is embarking on an oral history project to collect your story—in your own words.

Calling All Rams: Participate in Fordham's Oral History Project!

The Office of Alumni Relations is excited to announce the start of the Fordham Oral History Project designed to capture the rich history and memories of our alumni community.

We have partnered with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) to collect stories from Rams around the world to preserve your memories and celebrate Fordham’s impact on your life.

By sharing your memories, you’ll contribute to a celebration of the diverse journeys of Fordham graduates and the vibrant history of the University.

How It Works

Participating in the project is simple! Keep an eye out for postcards and emails with a phone number to call in and share your story over the phone (see postcard and email samples in FAQs).

During the call, we will also verify your contact information to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information in our system. Rest assured, all personal information will be kept confidential and used only for this purpose.

You will be able to buy The Fordham Oral History Project book or digital publication during the call, as well as some custom branded merchandise, but the purchase is absolutely optional! You can just reconfirm your contact information and record your story; no purchase necessary.

What to Talk About

There are endless possibilities when it comes to sharing your Fordham memories. Here are just a few ideas to kickstart your story: 

  • What was your favorite class? Who was your favorite professor?
  • Did you play any sports or were you active in any clubs or organizations?
  • Did you have any internships during your time at Fordham? How did you get them and what did they mean to you for your career and life after graduation?
  • How did studying in New York City shape your education?

What Happens Next

Stories will be compiled into a special book available for purchase as well as a digital version. Along the way, participants will also have the option to purchase exclusive branded merchandise. Please Note: No purchase is necessary; you can share your story and update your information without purchasing the book, digital publication, or the merchandise.

Questions?

Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@fordham.edu or 212-636-6520.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an oral history publication for Fordham University. PCI is a family-owned business based in Dallas, Texas, that has published books for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities, and military organizations across the nation for more than 100 years. This project allows us to hear about your personal experiences from your time at Fordham and how the University has helped to shape your life since then. And, while we have you on the phone, we want to make sure your contact information is up to date.

Below you will find examples of a sample postcard and email that you will receive from PCI with the call-in information that you can use to update your information and share your story with us:

Postcard Example

Sample postcard from Oral History Project (front)

Sample Postcard from Oral History Project (Back)

 

Email Example

 Sample Email from Oral History Project

Yes, in two ways, in particular: 

  • A Stronger Legacy—sharing and collecting your stories preserves the history of Fordham
  • Updated Information—allows us to effectively communicate with and engage you and your fellow alumni
We are committed to protecting your information. The names, addresses, and information provided to PCI for the publication of the Fordham Oral History Project will be held confidential by PCI, except to the extent that they are utilized in, or in the preparation of, the oral history project and except as required by court order or law.
  • If you have received a postcard or an email with a telephone number, you may call the number to speak with a dedicated representative for the Fordham Oral History Project. The representative will verify the information we have on file for you, make any updates where needed, and then ask you to share your story about your time at Fordham. Your story will be recorded, and the sound clip provided to Fordham at the conclusion of the project.

  • If you have received an email with an embedded link, you may go to the online site to review your information and submit a story.

  • If you are living internationally or are unable to call the update line, please email customerservice@publishingconcepts.com. PCI will send you a personalized link for you to share your written story and photo.

  • If you can’t find the email or postcard and want to reach PCI directly, please call 888-827-6096
If you would like to participate and are deaf/hard of hearing, please email customerservice@publishingconcepts.com. PCI will send you a personalized link for you to share your written story and photo.
The only information that is included in the publication is your name, class year, and degree, along with your story and photo. No contact information is printed. When you call to update your contact information, it will be used only to update your alumni record for Fordham University. You may revoke consent for your story and/or photo to appear anytime before May 16, 2025, by contacting PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 or customerservice@publishingconcepts.com.
You can call back anytime before May 16, 2025, to share your story.
You will receive an email with a link to upload one photo (black and white or color) plus a caption.

If you have also purchased a book but do not have an email address on file, you will be sent a photo mailer to send in a physical photo to be printed (note: the photo will be returned if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope).
The Fordham University Oral History publication will be available for sale only to Fordham University alumni.
There are a variety of products and packages available for alumni to purchase, including a physical book, a digital publication, and exclusive branded merchandise. The chart below details the pricing and shipping details for each individual item and package:

Pricing chart for OHP


Contact PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 and someone will take care of this for you.
If you purchased a book or a package, your items will arrive in the fall of 2025.