Every community has its own rich and unique history. Whether you live in a neighborhood of fewer than 1,000 residents, a mid-sized town, or a much larger community, you can take certain steps to make sure your town’s history is well-documented. In doing so, not only will current residents learn about your neighborhood’s vibrant past, but future residents will also have a lasting record to which they can refer to for many years to come.
What to include?
Before putting together a community history, you need to decide what you’d like to include:
Will it include a series of stories whereby residents of all ages are interviewed about the past and present?
Will you feature bios about notable residents who lived and currently reside in your community?
Will you add information about the industries, cultural activities, and pastimes that are prominent in your community?
Whatever you decide, it’s important to make a list of what you want your community history to consist of before gathering information.
“There’s only so much you can write about, and you have to think about your audience,” says Ben Gibson, one of the Midwestern editors for The History Press, headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. “You’re not trying to tell people everything that happened; you’re trying to give them a general history of the town.”
Contact local people and organizations
The people and organizations in your community can provide you with a wealth of information to build your community history.
“Though not every town has one, a good place to start is with your local historical society,” says Frank Lipo, executive director of the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest in Oak Park, Illinois. “You can also talk to someone in the reference section at your local library, and go to the local senior center, Rotary organization, and women’s clubs, because those people may have records.”
Talking to people in your community who have other interests and belong to other types of clubs can also be helpful, Gibson says.
“These include civil war groups, sports historians, preservation societies, and people who know about pioneer life,” he says.
Pictures are important
Don’t forget to include pictures! They provide a visual snapshot of what life was like in your community. “Pictures tell people how things, from autos to buildings to streets, have changed over time,” Lipo says.
“Historical societies have good pictures, and the local library might have a local history room with pictures,” Gibson says. “The Library of Congress might have good images that you can use, and you can check in the newspaper archives. It’s exciting if you have a picture of a house and you can say a duel was fought there in 1863. Pictures bring a sense of connection from the past to the present.”
Preserve Your Community History
By Karen Schwartz
Every community has its own rich and unique history. Whether you live in a neighborhood of fewer than 1,000 residents, a mid-sized town, or a much larger community, you can take certain steps to make sure your town’s history is well-documented. In doing so, not only will current residents learn about your neighborhood’s vibrant past, but future residents will also have a lasting record to which they can refer to for many years to come.
What to include?
Before putting together a community history, you need to decide what you’d like to include:
Whatever you decide, it’s important to make a list of what you want your community history to consist of before gathering information.
“There’s only so much you can write about, and you have to think about your audience,” says Ben Gibson, one of the Midwestern editors for The History Press, headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. “You’re not trying to tell people everything that happened; you’re trying to give them a general history of the town.”
Contact local people and organizations
The people and organizations in your community can provide you with a wealth of information to build your community history.
“Though not every town has one, a good place to start is with your local historical society,” says Frank Lipo, executive director of the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest in Oak Park, Illinois. “You can also talk to someone in the reference section at your local library, and go to the local senior center, Rotary organization, and women’s clubs, because those people may have records.”
Talking to people in your community who have other interests and belong to other types of clubs can also be helpful, Gibson says.
“These include civil war groups, sports historians, preservation societies, and people who know about pioneer life,” he says.
Pictures are important
Don’t forget to include pictures! They provide a visual snapshot of what life was like in your community. “Pictures tell people how things, from autos to buildings to streets, have changed over time,” Lipo says.
“Historical societies have good pictures, and the local library might have a local history room with pictures,” Gibson says. “The Library of Congress might have good images that you can use, and you can check in the newspaper archives. It’s exciting if you have a picture of a house and you can say a duel was fought there in 1863. Pictures bring a sense of connection from the past to the present.”