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StoryCorps: Recording America

Award-winning national oral history project is coming to Sacramento April 17 through May 10

Capital Public Radio is bringing StoryCorps to Sacramento offering you and others in our community a chance to record their personal stories and become part of American history, both at the Library of Congress and, for some storytellers, through broadcasts locally on KXJZ and nationally on National Public Radio programs.

By using the stories of everyday Americans, StoryCorps creates an oral history of the United States. The idea behind StoryCorps is simple: everyone has an important and interesting story to tell. Conversations are recorded between two people who are important to each other – two sisters, a husband and wife, a grandfather and his granddaughter, or perhaps two childhood friends. When people listen to these stories, they hear the courage, the humor, the trials and triumphs of an incredible range of American voices.

Since May 2005, StoryCorps’ mobile recording studios, housed in Airstream trailers, have been on a cross-country tour. Capital Public Radio is hosting StoryCorps’ visit to Sacramento from April 17 through May 10. The Mobile Booth will be parked, throughout its stay, at the 9th Street entrance of the Central Library, between I and J Streets.

At the Mobile Booth, people participate in pairs and one interviews the other. A trained facilitator guides the participants through the interview process and handles the technical aspects of the recording. At the end of a 40-minute session the participants walk away with a CD of their interview. With their permission, a second copy will be sent to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress where it becomes part of a high quality digital archive. Eventually, this collection will grow into an oral history of America. Locally, with additional permission, another copy of each CD will reside in the Sacramento Room at the Central Library.

 

Reserve Your Spot

Do you, or does someone you know, have a story to tell? You are invited to record your story at the StoryCorps mobile recording booth April 17 through May 10. If you missed getting a StoryCorps reservation to tell you story, please continue to check back. StoryCorps has developed a waiting list, and as cancellations occur the next person on the list will be notified for an open time. A $10 donation for StoryCorps is suggested.

Click the mobile booth below to make your reservation.


"What was the best tip you ever got?"
Debra Goodman interviews her friend Ed Trinka, a doorman at the Plaza Hotel since 1963.

"I had never been to the circus before..."
Maureen Krekian tells her daughters, Lynn Everett and Joanne Krekian, about surviving the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944.

"We were really pioneers. We were the Jackie Robinson of the Air Force."
Roscoe Brown, Jr., telling his friend Javier Henriquez about being a Tuskegee Airman.

"He was tough on the outside—big, big soft guy on the inside."
Bob Carberry and John Cullen remember their fellow firefighter, Lieutenant Steven Bates, who died on September 11, 2001.

"I saw this pretty young lady with an umbrella waiting for the bus, so I opened the window and said, ‘Can I give you a ride?"
96-year-old Edward Davis tells his granddaughter, Lauren Weigel, about the day he met his wife.
 
     

Sponsored By

Sacramento Public Libraray

Sacramento Public Library Foundation

Raley's

Hosted By

Capital Public Radio

NPR

NPR PRI
CPB American Public Media