Community Members Invited to Record Oral Histories for “Voices of the First Coast”
July 28, 2010
Community Members Invited to Record Oral Histories for “Voices of the First Coast” Local initiative partners WJCT and the Jacksonville Public Library
(Jacksonville, FL, July 27, 2010); WJCT and the Jacksonville Public Library invite First Coast citizens to record their stories for Voices of the First Coast, a collaboration modeled after the nationwide story collecting initiative, StoryCorps. With the assistance of humanities scholars, WJCT will shape selected stories into a one-hour radio documentary that will air on 89.9 WJCT-FM on November 25-26, Thanksgiving and the National Day of Listening. All stories will be archived in a permanent collection as part of the Jacksonville Public Library’s Florida Collection and the archives of the Jacksonville Historical Society.
Interested citizens will have the opportunity to record their stories in 40-minute, two-person interviews at selected libraries in Duval and St. Johns Counties in August. Specific dates and locations are available online at wjct.org, along with signup information. Reservation requests must be submitted by emailing WJCT at . Reservation requests will be accepted beginning Wednesday, July 28 at 9 a.m. Sessions are limited, and citizens are encouraged to sign up early. Citizens can also record stories with take-home do-it-yourself kits, available at local libraries in the fall.
“We hope that Voices of the First Coast will foster continuing conversation and promote community-wide appreciation for the diversity of voices that are part of our rich local history,” says Michael Boylan, WJCT President and CEO. “We’re pleased to partner with the Jacksonville Public Library in this ongoing project, and encourage all First Coast citizens to participate.”
“The library is very pleased to partner with WJCT on this great community initiative,” said Barbara Gubbin, Library Director. “The oral histories collected through Voices of the First Coast will become a part of the library’s Florida Collection, saving a slice of everyday life and memories of those living in early 21st century Jacksonville for future generations to come.”
This project is made possible through a grant from the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
WJCT is the community supported public broadcasting station for Florida’s First Coast. More information about WJCT’s programming and services is available online.