Everybody has a story to tell
StoryCorps is visiting Columbia this February as part of its 2007 tour to capture the way Americans are living today.
By Jessica Cross
crossja84@gmail

Since StoryCorps opened its first StoryBooth in New York City in October of 2003, more than 9,000 stories of average Americans have been recorded. Today, StoryCorps consists of two mobile StoryBooths that tour the U.S. and another booth located in Lower Manhattan.

StoryCorps was created by award- winning radio documentary producer of Sound Portrait Productions, Dave Isay in order to create an oral American history and to use this history as an outlet for self- expression and as inspiration to listeners.

Kristin Harkey, grants and development manager for the South Carolina Humanities Council, is one of the organizers of the Columbia leg of this year's StoryCorps tour. According to Harkey, some of the interviews set for February include a 96- year- old African- American schoolteacher recounting her experiences living in the South during the days of the Jim Crowe laws, a husband and wife telling the story of how they met, and a woman who was proposed to at the World Trade Center.

These and other participants will record 30- 45 minute conversations with a friend or family member. A trained facilitator walks the pair through the interview while recording it. At the end of the session, contributors receive a copy of their interview on CD. With participants' permission, another copy is sent to the Library of Congress to have on file. Stories are also selected to air on National Public Radio's Morning Edition each Friday.

Harkey notes that some people want to contribute to StoryCorps because of stories they have heard on NPR.

Although many people may feel like their lives are not interesting enough to tell a story, Harkey says, "Eventually you'll land on one you feel like you need to tell." "I believe everyone has an important story to tell," she said.

Just as everyone has a story to tell, so does everyone need to hear the personal accounts of others on occasion. "A sense of history and identity comes from stories…story is the fabric of all of our lives," said Harkey as she recounts stories she heard her own grandmother tell. "StoryCorps is about listening," she said. "Listening is an act of love and of being a good citizen."

StoryCorps weaves stories together to create the garment of American history that we are living in right now. "We do have an oral history within our culture," said Harkey, "a national extension of that is to include people within all facets of life."

The South Carolina State Library, Richland County Public Library, and South Carolina Humanities Council have joined together to invite people of all walks of life to tell their stories February 8- 22 at the main branch of RCPL. Reservations are required. To reserve a slot, call 771-2477 or visit storycorps.net. For further information, call 929-3557.