Everyone Has a Story to Tell

The Cedar Key Public Library will offer a free Oral History Workshop for anyone who is interested in learning how to preserve valuable family histories. The workshop will take place at the library on the afternoon of Saturday, June 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. There is no charge for the workshop, and supplies and equipment will be provided. Although pre-registration is not required, the library asks that those interested in attending call the library by June 26, in order that sufficient supplies are available.

According to the presenter, Edward Gonzalez-Tennant PhD, the recording of personal histories is increasingly viewed by researchers and members of the public as a vital source of information regarding the past. Everyone has a story to tell and oral history recognizes the importance of personal experiences in understanding our shared past.
This workshop will introduce participants to the standard methods of oral history. The workshop will begin with a discussion of interviewing techniques. We will provide pointers for collecting personal stories, and discuss the use of digital recorders in oral history. Then, an overview of the transcription process is briefly presented. The final hour will be reserved for the collection of oral history interviews. Interviews collected as part of this project will be permanently stored with the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida.

Edward Gonzalez-Tennant earned his PhD in anthropology from the University of Florida in 2011. He is a historical archaeologist with a long-standing interest in the history of Florida and particularly Levy County. Dr. Gonzalez-Tennant is currently Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Monmouth University in New Jersey.

The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program is one of the largest and oldest oral history programs in the US. It is housed at the University of Florida and provides free access via the internet to thousands of oral history transcripts and has a particular focus on Florida and Southern US history.