Where everyone is a storyteller
StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving and sharing the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs, visited Knoxville, Tenn., this fall as part of its cross-country MobileBooth tour.
Founded in 2003 by award-winning documentary producer and MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient Dave Isay, StoryCorps currently has one of the largest collections of American voices ever gathered, with interviews collected from more than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states.
“StoryCorps tells the true American story: that we are a people defined by small acts of courage, kindness and heroism. Each interview reminds people that their lives matter and will not be forgotten,” Isay said. “By strengthening connections between people and building an archive that reflects the rich diversity of American voices, we hope to build StoryCorps into an enduring institution that will touch the lives of every American family.”
StoryCorps’ MobileBooth—an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio—set up residence in Knoxville’s Market Square to record 180 interviews with Knoxville residents. StoryCorps’ MobileBooth interviews are conducted between two people who know and care about each other. A trained StoryCorps facilitator guides participants through the interview process. At the end of each 40-minute recording session, participants receive a complimentary audio copy of their interview, and, with participant permission, a second copy will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
On StoryCorps first day in Knoxville, interview recorders included Kate Shattuck, who spoke with her father, Jerry Shattuck, who attended Clinton High School during its desegregation in 1956. As president of his high school class, he arranged to have the high school football team escort the “Clinton 12” into the school. The school was bombed after it desegregated.
Patricia Robledo, who owns Robledo Translations, LLC, was joined by her husband, John Craig. Robeldo moved to Knoxville from Colombia in 1981. She discussed her experiences as a Latina in the community. Craig discussed his involvement in downtown Knoxville redevelopment efforts. The couple owns Segundo Properties, LLC, a firm specializing in historic building renovation.
StoryCorps offers rental kits that feature broadcast-quality recording equipment with instructions. People also can create their own story archives using their own recording equipment and StoryCorps’ Do-It-Yourself Guide. For more information, visit http://storycorps.org/record-your-story/cant-come-to-us.
In addition to its two traveling MobileBooths, StoryCorps currently operates stationary recording booths at Foley Square in New York City, at Atlanta’s public radio station WABE-FM and at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.
StoryCorps’ mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, preserve and share their stories. Each week, millions of Americans listen to StoryCorps’ award-winning broadcasts on NPR’s “Morning Edition.” StoryCorps has published two New York Times bestselling books: “Listening Is an Act of Love” in 2007 and “Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps” in 2010. StoryCorps’ major funders include the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Ford Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, the Kaplen Foundation and Joe and Carol Reich. StoryCorps also relies on the support from its participants and listeners.
For more information or to listen to stories online, visit storycorps.org.