AIDS Epidemic in San Francisco

About the project 

The AIDS Epidemic in San Francisco oral history project was initiated by virologists David and Evelyne Lennette, whose laboratory in 1981 began receiving specimens for testing from early San Francisco AIDS patients. The intention of this project was to document events of 1981-84 in the early history of the AIDS epidemic, focusing on how decisions were made on biomedical, public health, and social and political issues pertaining to AIDS.

The interviews were conducted by Sally Smith Hughes between 1992 and 1996.

See all interviews

Project resources

The Oral History Center produced a six-episode podcast season called “First Response: AIDS and Community in San Francisco” which drew upon many of the interviews in the AIDS oral histories.

Other projects that include oral histories with content related to the AIDS epidemic include:

Freedom to Marry oral history project

Kaiser Permanente Medical Care oral history project

Science, Technology, and Health — Individual Interviews