[A panel discussion on the UAW Local 602 Fisher Body Oral History Project at the 33rd North American Labor History Conference].

John P. Beck, Michigan State University Professor of Human Resource and Labor Relations, kicks off a panel discussion of the UAW Local 602 Fisher Body Oral History project, during a session at the North American Labor History Conference at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Beck introduces the panelists and talks about the scholarly value of the collection. Doug Rademacher, former Local 602 Preident, describes his involvement in the project and how interviewees were identified and recruited and Marilyn Coulter, a former Fisher Body production worker, explains how she came to the project and how interviews were conducted. John Shaw, from the Michigan State University Libraries, discusses how the material came to the G. Robert Vincent Voice Library, how it was processed and cataloged and the construction of the Lansing Auto Town Gallery website. Kevin Beard, also from the MSU Libraries, plays excerpts from some of the interviews and discusses the experiences of African-Americans and women, as portrayed by interviewees. Nancy Darga, Director of the Motorcities National Heritage Area, discusses that organization's involvement in the project and their interest in preserving Michigan’s rich manufacturing heritage.

Recorded at the North American Labor History Conference at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, by the Vincent Voice Library, Oct. 20, 2011.