Haldimand Museums looking to preserve the community’s past through oral history project, seeking interviewees

Haldimand Museums is embarking on a special project to preserve local history through the voices, memories and perspectives of people who have lived, worked or visited the county throughout history.

Staff are currently seeking individuals with unique stories or recollections of Haldimand’s past who are willing to be interviewed and videotaped for this oral history project, which will eventually become part of the museum’s permanent collection and viewable for generations to come.

Oral histories play an integral role in many cultures and take many forms, including (but not limited to) songs, stories, folklore, allegories and traditional one-on-one interviews – either audio or video.

Oral history can provide a fuller, more accurate picture of the past by augmenting information provided by public records, statistical data, photographs, maps, letters, diaries, and other written-word historical materials.

For Haldimand Museums’ oral history project, staff are hoping to capture accounts of what life was like in different areas of the county, at different periods in time.

“There’s so much more to local history than the artifacts or records we have in our collection, and what’s published in history books. We want to hear from people that have had unique experiences in Haldimand County over the years, remember certain events or recall circumstances that occurred while they were living or working in the area,” said Anne Unyi, Supervisor, Heritage and Culture.

“The interviews we conduct will shine a light on our community’s past that may otherwise be forgotten. It’s important we capture these untold stories so we can teach future generations about where they came from and the events that shaped life as they know it,” Unyi added.

Individuals who are interested in being interviewed for this oral history project are encouraged to contact museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca with their name, contact information and a few brief details on the stories or perspectives they wish to share. Museum staff will follow up with individuals to coordinate interviews, which will be conducted in-person at either the Cayuga Heritage Centre or Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre over the coming months.