Join us for an inspiring afternoon of free oral history workshops designed for everyone! Whether you're an artist, historian, educator, student, or simply a passionate community member, this engaging discussion will showcase the transformative power of listening, recording, and storytelling as vital acts of preservation and connection.

 These enriching workshops are open to all and completely free of charge. While registration is strongly encouraged to secure your spot, it is not mandatory. Feel free to sign up for one or both sessions as you dive into the essence of oral history. This event is proudly part of the Our Stage / Our Voices initiative, hosted by the UIS Performing Arts Center in collaboration with the Sangamon Experience. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and create!

Story Harvest: Collecting Oral Histories (12:30 PM – 2:30 PM)

Led by Dr. Mark DePue, retired oral historian, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

This workshop will go over how to gather oral histories and memories, whether you're working on a family history, a church or business history, or a creative or professional project. It will also touch on how professional oral historians conduct interviews.

Story Harvest: From Memory to Meaning (2:45 PM - 4:45 PM)

Stories shape how we understand our communities, our history, and ourselves. Story Harvest: From Memory to Meaning brings together filmmakers, public historians, writers, and storytellers to explore the power of oral history as a tool for connection, discovery, and understanding.

Moderated by Scott Loyd, Oral History Manager at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the panel features Rich Saal, creator of the documentary Soil & Soul: Farming in the Sangamon River Valley; Evie Rodenbaugh, creator of the digital exhibit Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois; and Tara McAndrew, local writer, historian, and University of Illinois Springfield alumna.

Through conversation and examples from their work, panelists will discuss how oral history helps uncover overlooked stories, preserve cultural memory, and strengthen ties between communities and their past. Attendees will gain insight into the process of collecting and interpreting personal narratives and discover how individual experiences can inspire creativity, foster meaningful dialogue, and deepen our understanding of the world around us.

This initiative is presented in part thanks to support from the UIS Visionary Giving Circle. 

For questions, please contact:

Carly Shank, UIS Performing Arts Center – carmi1@uis.edu, 217-206-8286

Anne Moseley, Sangamon Experience – asutt4@uis.edu, 217-206-8663