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DEC.9 , 2003 - Will you be forgotten, your memory lost in the sands of time, or will you be a part of history? The Oral History Project 2004 wants to make sure you are remembered – for generations to come. Started last year in Palm Beach, Florida, the Oral History Project 2004 collects the stories and personal histories of everyday citizens from all walks of life in order to preserve them for future generations.
“People have wonderful stories to tell about their lives, their times, and experiences,” says writer, historian, Tom Malone, founder of the project. “It would be a tragedy if they were lost. Unfortunately, most of them will be. Their unique stories are important and need to be preserved, not only for family and friends, but for history and future generations as well.”
Conducting informal interviews in people’s homes or in their Palm Beach office, the project then turns the stories into digital audio files and transfers them to CD’s for preservation. While many participants simply want their interviews as a family memorial, the recordings are also considered by scholars as vital historical records which paint a portrait of our times. The Library of Congress has an extensive oral history collection and an ongoing commitment to acquire these recordings, as do dozens of major universities around the country, including the University of Florida, Columbia University, the University of California. The Oral History Project 2004 offers participants the option of keeping the recordings entirely private and solely for their own use, or releasing them so they can be preserved in the permanent collections of archives around the country.
“It’s a great way to be remembered, and I think everyone wants to be remembered,” says Malone. “But few memories be preserved after the generation of their children, or grandchildren, because their lives and stories will go unrecorded, and their histories will be left to the recollections of others. Memory is a fragile thing though, and time eventually erases or changes even the best memories unless they are recorded. I know what it would mean to me if I could listen to the voices of my ancestors and hear their stories, know what their times were like and what they had experienced in their own words. It would have been the most valuable legacy they could ever have left behind. Today we have the means to preserve our voices forever. It’s fun helping people share their stories and make history every day.”
If you are interested in making history this year, and possibly making it into the Library of Congress, check out the Oral History Project 2004. They have offices at 2875 South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach. Call (561) 582-0772 for more information.
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Florida State Senator Larcenia J. Bullard to bring Christmas to Belle Glade Saturday, December 13th
Miami, December - In an effort to bring a measure of sunshine into the lives of those families in the Belle Glade area, Senator Larcenia Bullard of District 39 launched holiday campaign, Project Happy Families and urged business, schools, and organizations to join in this worthwhile effort. They contributed to this noble cause by providing clothing, toys and can food items.
On Saturday, December 13th 2003 Senator Bullard, her staff, volunteers and sponsors are scheduled to load a 17ft. van filled with gifts and travel to Lake Shore Civic Center 1224 S.W. Avenue E Place to greet over 75 families.
Belle Glade Mayor Steve Wilson will introduce and welcome Senator Bullard at 10a.m. Distribution will follow a brief program.
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