The National Hellenic Museum in Chicago (NHM), the largest repository of Greek-American oral histories, announced earlier in the week that they will embark on a campaign to gather and archive more stories of the Greek-American experience, in partnership with the National Hellenic Society.
NHM staff have provided training to the NHS’ “Heritage Greece” alumni so that they can gather oral histories in their local communities and parishes. These oral histories, in turn, will become part of the NHM’s large Oral History Collection.
Cataloging and collecting oral histories is an important part of preserving Greek-American history, offering first-hand accounts and personal stories which are critical to scholars, genealogists, communities, and families.
This collection’s value is enhanced not only when there are a larger quantity of interviews, but when those interviews represent more diverse experiences within the Greek story in America.
This project will facilitate increasing both the size and the diversity of the NHM Oral History Collection and provide the young Greek Americans among NHS’ Heritage Greece alumni the opportunity to not only connect with their history, but to have a hand in preserving the rich legacy that they have inherited, according to the NHM.
Source: usa.greekreporter.com