in this issue

"You're a what?" Is the typical response to "I'm an oral historian." Oral history is a vital component of local history research. The oral historian researches the time during which a person lived, gathers biographical information on the person, prepares questions for the interview, then conducts and records the interview. Scholars doing local history research then use the tape and the transcript in a library or an archive. In them are found the thousands of personal stories that typically are not written in history books nor lectured about by professors. These comprise a vital part of many historical library collections.

It has been my privilege, through the Creative Pathways program, to work as an oral historian at the Tempe Historical Museum for the past few months. The first project was "Women of Tempe," and I interviewed all the women who have served on the Tempe City Council and other key women in Tempe's history. Researching these women and finding out about their personal and professional lives was a fascinating process. Some of the councilwomen served during a time when it was still unusual for women to have jobs, much less hold political office. One related the story of her daughter coming home after school and once again, finding her mother engrossed in Council work, asked, "Isn't anyone in charge of milk and cookies anymore?" These women donated valuable personal time to participate on a local level, and they all feel that they truly made a difference. Learning about the many transitions Tempe has gone through and their respective roles in those transitions has been illuminating.

The next project focused on the winners of the Spirit of Tempe Award given to business leaders in the community. Another one of my jobs was to compile a list of potential interviewees that have been given to the Curator of History over time - some of which were written on scraps of paper or napkins - for future oral historians to interview. It was rather sobering to discover that many of them were no longer candidates as they had recently passed away.

There are, however, still many more stories and projects waiting. Unfortunately, there are never enough volunteers to record those stories before they are lost forever. If you have ever considered doing a Creative Pathways project, I urge you to consider this one. It is interesting, rewarding and educational. There is the added benefit of working with John Akers, the Museum's Curator of History. John is a very patient teacher as he leads you through the process of learning to conduct oral histories, and the museum staff offers wonderful support. Best of all are the people who give their stories; you will remember them for a lifetime. Call John at the Museum at 480-350-5110 or Julie Beaty, Creative Pathways Coordinator at District, at 480-731-8299 for more information. I'm extremely glad I did.