About the Project

Countless lives were affected by the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and their aftermath. The WBUR Oral History Project collected stories from individuals whose lives were immediately and irrevocably changed by these events. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of WBUR, the team of oral historians, and the participation of these interview subjects, Our Marathon has tried to ensure that these stories are not forgotten. We believe that these stories matter, and that they demonstrate the ways historical events transform the lives of the people who lived through them. Visit the WBUR Oral History Project to see how selections of these oral histories were produced for the media.

Oral History Mission

We hope that these stories help with the healing process of the people who tell them, and we believe that a permanent record of these events in Our Marathon is an invaluable resource to students, historians, and later generations interested in the story of the 2013 Boston Marathon.

Carpenter; keeper of public memorial on Copley Square for Boston Marathon bombings

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Conflict mediator for Cambridge schools

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Creator of the One Run relay race across America in support of survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings

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Freelance journalist; 2013 Boston Marathon spectator

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Executive director of the Cambridge Peace Commission

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Family advocate for families dealing with domestic abuse at the Cambridge Guidance Center's "Children with Voices"

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2013 Boston Marathon runner; survivor of the Boston Marathon bombings

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Owner of the Charlesmark Hotel on Boylston Street

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer

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Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital; 2013 Boston Marathon runner

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Director of the Program in Statistics within the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Boston University; advisor to Lingzi Lu, who died as a result of the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing

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General manager of Forum restaurant on Boylston Street

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Spectators of the 2013 Boston Marathon; Hafsa helped Brittany, who was injured as a result of the bombings

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Northeastern University student who was injured as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings of April 2013

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Director of Communications and Outreach for an engineering leadership program at MIT; 2013 Boston Marathon spectator and first responder

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Rabbi at Temple Israel in Boston; created a joint service marking the first anniversary of the attacks

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Executive director of the Cambridge mosque

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Employee at Marathon Sports on Boylston Street; Boston Marathon runner

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Writing professor at Berklee College of Music, poet, and community activist; Boston Marathon runner

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Boston firefighter; EMT and first responder at the 2013 Boston Marathon

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Program Coordinator at the Riverside Trauma Center

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US Navy veteran; 2013 Boston Marathon volunteer

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Executive director of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center

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Graduate student of statistics at Boston University; close friend of Lingzi Lu, who died as a result of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings

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Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital played a critical role in the rehabilitation of many of the most seriously injured survivors of the bombings. They managed the opening of their new facility in the Boston Navy Yard just days after the bombings. Many of their staff were personally affected as they were runners on the Spaulding marathon charity team or were waiting near the finish line to support the team and witnessed the bombings. Our Marathon's WBUR Oral History Project sought to collect a cross-section of interviews from Spaulding staff to chronicle how the rehabilitative care of marathon bombing survivors was an integral part of the city’s response to violence and mass trauma.

President of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network; 2013 Boston Marathon runner

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Chief Operating Officer of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network; 2013 Boston Marathon runner

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Director of Communications at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network

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Clinical Nurse Manager at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network; mother of Boston Marathon runner; treated survivors

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Director of Amputee Services at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network; 2013 Boston Marathon runner

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Spaulding Rehabilitation Network physician; BAA Marathon Medical Tent Volunteer; first responder

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Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network; provided rehabilitation care to survivors

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Disclaimer

The opinions and statements expressed in interviews and related content featured in the WBUR Oral History Project do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Our Marathon, WBUR, Northeastern University, or any employees or volunteers affiliated with these institutions and projects. Our Marathon and The WBUR Oral History project make no assertions about the veracity of statements made by participants in this project.

Use of Oral History Materials

Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond fair use. Requests for permission to publish quotations should be addressed to Our Marathon (marathon@neu.edu) and should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user. Commercial use of content is prohibited. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.