About the Project and FAQ
The Oral History Project hosts a collection of interviews with alumni, faculty members and friends of the School of Law. These interviews are preserved for posterity, and digitally indexed to provide easy access for historians, researchers and others.
The Project is supported by the UB Law Alumni Association, funded in part by the Rachlin family as a tribute to the memory of Harry A. Rachlin, a 1926 graduate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Harry A. Rachlin Oral History Project?
The main purpose is to collect and preserve the personal stories of UB School of Law graduates, faculty, administrators, and friends, in their own words, as they share how the law school, the legal community, and the social and political environment of their time shaped their lives.
What is the scope of the Project?
The Oral History includes interviews of individuals and recordings of significant School of Law alumni, School of Law, and Law Alumni Association events from 1999 to the present.
As of 2026, we have almost 200 recorded assets, of which more than 175 are now posted online. Others will be added over time. Please note that interviews and the interviewee bios reflect a snapshot of that individual’s career at the time the interview was conducted. Many of our interviewees have since gone on to other professional opportunities.
In what way is this oral history different than others?
The recordings can be searched across interviews using keywords. Searchable categories include event type, format, class year, career sector, law school experience, areas of law, and other topics. Each recording includes a written summary.
Why is it called the Harry A. Rachlin’26 Oral History? Who supported this project?
Following his father’s passing, Lauren D. Rachlin, Esq. was concerned that the voices and careers of many great lawyers in his father’s generation and later were lost and forgotten. He learned of the Oral History Project and in 2002 and decided to support it financially in memory of his father, Harry A. Rachlin, Class of 19926.
Who selected the interviewees?
Beginning in 1999, volunteer board members of the UB Law Alumni Association’s Oral History Committee selected a few individuals to be interviewed every year, depending on available resources.
What were the criteria?
Volunteers selected lawyers and judges who were regarded as leaders in the university and/or legal communities. Many were recipients of the Edwin F. Jaeckle Award or the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Efforts are made to include a diverse representation of the many alumni, faculty and administrators at the law school, particularly those who have faced unique challenges in their pursuit of a legal career.
Why are some interviews audio, instead of video?
Video was not widely used in the early days of the project. Our technology has advanced over time.
Have the interviews been edited?
To preserve the authenticity of each interview, editing has been limited to formatting rather than content. The law school cannot verify the accuracy of the interview content, and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the university, the law school or the Law Alumni Association.
How can I be interviewed?
Contact the Law Alumni Office at law-oral-history@buffalo.edu. Please note that our modest resources restrict the volume of interviews we conduct each year. We kindly request your patience as interview opportunities are limited and scheduled selectively throughout the year.
How can I support the Project?
You can show your support for the Project and the work of the Law Alumni Association in many ways, including:
Keep your contact information up to date!
Have you recently moved? Changed your work office? Have a new email address?
Don't miss out on any School of Law or Law Alumni news. Submit your updated contact information to our online form to stay advised of upcoming events and activities.