The Collection

Since 1986, the Foreign Affairs Oral History Program of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) has recorded more than 2600 interviews with former participants in the U.S. foreign affairs process. Collectively, these oral histories span over 80 years. About 60 new interviews are added annually. The series also contains some significant oral histories dealing with American diplomacy, which were provided by universities and presidential libraries.

The oral history collection has become one of the largest in the country on any subject and the most significant collection on foreign affairs.

The collection is available on ADST’s website under Search Our Collection and also hosted on the Library of Congress website as the Frontline Diplomacy Collection.

Special Collections

Oral Histories of U.S. Diplomacy in Afghanistan, 2001–2021

The special project aims to collect oral histories of diplomats and other officials who served in Afghanistan or were otherwise involved with U.S.-Afghanistan policies from 2001–2021, including the 2021 Kabul evacuation.

United States Institute of Peace Projects

In addition to its regular oral history program, ADST has collaborated closely with the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) on several special oral history projects pertaining to contemporary events.

ADST’s AFSA Oral History Project

With support from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), ADST conducted several oral histories with AFSA presidents and leadership, especially those who served in the opening decades of the 21st Century, specifically focusing on AFSA and the issues of that time. These interviews provide insights into the history of the association which was established in 1924 as a professional association and representative of the U.S. Foreign Service.

ADST’s African American and Latin American Ambassador Oral History Projects

In order to honor the diversity of the Foreign Service, we have also compiled a legacy collection of the oral histories of African American ambassadors and Latin American Ambassadors!

Country and Subject Readers Series

Interested in a particular country, region, or subject? Go beyond the experiences of just one diplomat with our Country and Subject Readers.

These Readers consist of relevant excerpts from individual oral history interviews arranged in approximate chronological order. They are designed to give a user an overview of American relations with a country or focus on a specific topic, as seen by those who served there or dealt with it from Washington. While the Readers do not necessarily provide full chronological continuity, they do offer unique insights over decades that often provide a unique perspective on U.S. relations and the formation of foreign policy.