COMING IN JUNE 2022!
WRFA-LP / Reg Lenna Center for the Arts is proud to announce the development of its new oral history program that allows Chautauqua County residents to provide their first-hand accounts of people, places, industries and events from our region’s rich past.
The “I Remember” oral history project will begin with a series of interview sessions starting in June 2022, and local residents who want to serve as primary sources on a variety of historical topics are encouraged to participate. The interviews will then run in a series of audio and video programs that will be broadcast on the local airwaves and also streamed online, starting in September 2022.
UPCOMING INTERVIEW SESSION
September 17, Saturday (10am to 3pm)
LOCATION: Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
POTENTIAL TOPICS:
- Kent Mansion: From Scottish Consistory to Robert H. Jackson Center
- Jamestown General Hospital
- Creation and Early History of Lucille Ball Comedy Festivals
- Neighborhood Corner Stores
- The Palace Renovation and Opening of Reg Lenna Center Civic Center and Arts Council for Chautauqua County
- Jamestown Ice Arena Development and Opening
- Chautauqua Striders & Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
- Growing Up in an Italian Family in Jamestown
- Chautauqua County Music Venues & Musicians
- Bill Clinton’s Visit to Chautauqua County (and other Presidents / Vice Presidents)
- Working in a Local Manufacturing Plant
- Attending/Organizing Local Festivals (Yassou, Scandinavian Folk Fest, St. James Fest, etc.)
- Martz-Kohl Observatory Founding
Those who want to participate are encouraged to sign up for one of our upcoming Interview Sessions (below). The dates and focused topics are below. Anyone participating must register ahead of time by emailing WRFA @ RegLenna.com with “I Remember” in the subject line or calling 716.664.2465 ext. 209.
Funded through a Community Action Grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, as well as from additional funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the “I Remember” project has a goal of interviewing at least 100 different individuals and providing 25 hours of audio and video programming in its first year. All interviews will also be transcribed and donated to the Chautauqua County Historical Society and the Fenton History Center for their archives.
