Collecting stories… one by one

You Have a Story to Tell, and We’re Doing Something About It

. 

The Northwest Arkansas Oral History Project began in 2018 as a way to collect and preserve the  memories and stories of folks living in the counties of Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington. The initial project  was supported by two local Questers chapters, Northwest Arkansas Butterfield Trails #949 and Blowing Springs #957. In 2019, the project became a freestanding 501(c)3 adding more collaborators. A major partner has been the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History at the University of Arkansas.  Through this partnership, the 65  interviews collected are preserved in the Special Collections Library at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Arkansas and will remain permanently available on the NWAOHP Project Page on the Pryor Center website.  Financial support to assemble the Project Page was obtained through a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council.

Collaborators with the Project in addition to the local Quester chapters, the Pryor Center and the Arkansas Humanities Council included Gravette Historical Museum, Bella Vista Historical Museum, Rogers Historical Museum. Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, University of Arkansas Folklore Center, Rogers Public Library, Bentonville Public Library, Piace Solutions and Give Camp NWA.

The project was coordinated by Camille Hatcher and Connie Fetters. Other core volunteers included Susan Porter, Beverley Helton, Barbara Knotts, Robbie Glaser and Randi Van Noy.