Beaufort Three-Century Project Launches '300 Years, 300 Stories' for American Archives Month

The Beaufort Three-Century Project will commemorate American Archives Month throughout October with an oral history recording blitz every Friday & Saturday in downtown Beaufort.

The B3C office at 207 Charles Street will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each Friday and Saturday in October to record personal stories about Beaufort.

“We are asking people to bring in old photographs that we can scan on the spot. We will be conducting interviews about the photos or just stories about people, places or incidents that folks remember about their lives in Beaufort and the surrounding area,” said project coordinator Deborah Johnson. “When people start telling their personal memories—whether young or old—the richness and context of a place begins to come alive. That is what we will be capturing through these interviews and photographs.”

The project will also convert older interviews from tape to a digital format to preserve them for the future. The goal of “300 Years, 300 Stories” is to have a digital oral history archive, with companion photographs where appropriate, of at least 300 stories when Beaufort’s Tricentennial arrives on January 17, 2011. Some stories have already been captured through subject-specific Beaufort Three-Century Project endeavors, but October will be dedicated to personal narratives on any subject, time period, or interest.

Project volunteers may conduct interviews but it is also suggested that people invite others to join them such as grandchildren interviewing their grandparents, neighbors interviewing each other, or old friends talking about shared experiences.

Each participant will be provided with a CD copy of their recorded interview.

Those interested in sharing their stories or helping with the project should call 489-1711 to schedule a time slot or drop by the office to see the recording booth and process. Although there is a large For Lease sign in the B3C office window, the project works out of this space every Friday and Saturday from 10:00 – 2:00 and is appreciative of the building owners—Edward Dukes and John Trask III—donating the space for this purpose.

The Beaufort Three-Century Project is a three-year effort to tap the community’s cultural memory through exploration, studies and special events that honor the past to better chart the future. It will culminate with a tricentennial celebration on January 17, 2011.

For more information, call Deborah Johnson at 489-1711 or e-mail djohnson@islc.net.