Area History Archiving: Behind the Project
Culture: Short Feature
The Area History Archiving (AHA) project is an effort to work with area residents to help them archive historical narratives and memorabilia, and to share the collected materials through a network of area organizations who provide various options for presenting them.
The project was developed by Sea Lion Studio, a local non-profit digital production facility, which sought the involvement of the Wood County Historical Center & Museum after discussing the idea with staff at Heritage Corner Senior Healthcare Campus. A successful grant application to the Bowling Green Community Foundation in the spring of 2007 helped the Studio organize a pilot phase that would include working with Heritage and the Museum.
The effort officially got underway in April 2007 as plans were developed for recording interviews during the summer months with a group of Heritage clients. Mary Britton, Administrator at the Heritage, and Leslie Dimmick, Assistant Administrator (at the time Director of Activities) selected 10 of their clients to participate, and worked with each of them to select the particular memories they wanted to share for the recordings. The clients also collected photos, newspaper clippings, and other keepsakes to go along with their stories.
Choosing from among their clients who would participate in the pilot project was difficult, according to Dimmick. "We have such a diverse group of clients here at the heritage, and so many of them have so many interesting stories to tell." The clients stories covered a range of subjects including: being a World War II radio dispatcher, having a honeymoon in Pennsylvania, getting a first car, early farming techniques, and many others.
Dimmick believes the opportunity to have the stories archived is good for the community as well as the families. As for the clients who participated, Dimmick says they quickly warmed to the chance to share their memories. "To relive them and to talk to other people that wanted to hear them - that's what they really enjoyed," says Dimmick.
Sea Lion Studio staff member Dustin Galish recorded the interviews, and then edited finished video pieces for each of the participants. According to Galsih the stories all had special meaning to the clients, and he was glad "to be able to put something together for their families to hear and share."
The Heritage hosted a showing of the videos at a special “Red Carpet Night at the Heritage Inn”, complete with a real red carpet and envelopes with award winner's names inside. The clients and members of their families joined to watch the screenings and share in each other's memories. The clients also each received DVDs with their video and an image gallery.
A complete set of the individual interviews and other collected materials have been added to the collection at the Wood County Historical Center and Museum for use in future programs and exhibits. Sea Lion Studio has added copies of the finished video pieces to the History section of the BG FIle website - and has published this story in the site's Culture section.
The Studio plans to continue work on the AHA project, and welcomes input and collaboration on the effort.