Industry Info

Organizations

People and organizations have been capturing personal histories for years, but they have attracted more attention in recent years. Here are several initiatives capturing personal histories:

· The Veterans History Project is trying to capture the personal histories of veterans, especially those who served in WWII. I interviewed a 90-year-old WWII veteran focusing on his war experiences and produced a separate DVD to contribute to the Veterans History Project.

· History Makers is seeking to compile 5,000 interviews of African Americans and compile an impressive archive of oral histories.

· Storycorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, seeking to honor and celebrate the lives of everyday Americans through short oral histories. Some of the histories are broadcast on NPR weekly.

· Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive has compiled hundreds of interviews from Holocaust survivors since 1981.

· Association of Personal Historians is an organization comprised of professional and amateur personal historians seeking to capture other people’s personal histories. I am a member of this organization.

Media

Several articles have been written about capturing personal histories. Here are two articles, one that suggests do-it-yourself and the other featuring a company that charges at least $80,000. (My fees are much more reasonable!)

The Chicago Tribune featured WGN’s reporter/anchor Robert Jordan and the video histories he captures (for costs of $80,000 or more). Article appeared on May 18, 2008.
Mitch Albom, an award-winning columnist and best-selling author, wrote a column for the Detroit Free Press that sums up my business perfectly. Read his column that ran on December 10, 2006.