12-year-old Ezra Awumey interviews his grandfather, Sam Harmon, and asks him to identify the saddest moment of his life. Listen »
Matt Barinholtz interviews his wife, Robyn, diagnosed with a fatal blood disease, about how she faces her impending death with courage and strength. Listen »
Keith Meerholz, a survivor of the September 11 terrorist attacks, remembers that day with his wife, Grete. Listen »
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StoryCorp was Here!
A StoryCorps sound-proof booth was on site at the Orlando Public Library from January 10 through February 2, 2008. The stories from these sessions will begin broadcasting later this year.
David Isay, StoryCorps founder and architect of the book Listening is an Act of Love, visited the Library for our monthly Second Saturday program. The event was a huge success featuring a crowd of over 200 people.
He shared accounts of some of the most touching stories recorded throughout the StoryCorps project. Isay also discussed the creation of the project and where he plans to take it next. Play this video to see a clip from this discussion.
OCLS Online Databases
If you are viewing this page from home, you will need your Orange County resident library card to access the online databases.
African American SongTake a listen to the history of African American Music. Browse to the category: Spoken Word & Sounds.
Lit Finder
Read famous speeches from history. Browse to the category: Speeches.
Literary Resource Center
Experience the tradition of oral history. Browse to the Authors category by type: Oral Tradition, Sermons, or Slave Narratives.
Smithsonian Global Sound Music Library
This streaming audio database offers more than music. Browse to the category: Spoken Word & Sounds.
World Book
Use the search phrases: Oral History, Oral Tradition.
Library Materials
Everyone Has a Story to Tell by Evans High
National Public Radio Related Materials
Spoken Word Revolution
This I Believe
eAudio & eBooks
eAudio - Biographies and Memoirs
eBooks - All About Oral Traditions
eBooks - Immerse Yourself in Oral History
eBooks - Radio Broadcasting - Past and Present
Web Sites
American Folk Life Center
The national center for America's folk life - the everyday stories of everyday people.
BBC Radio: Telling Lives
British project that tells personal stories illustrated with pictures from photo albums.
Living History Project
Brings older people together in a social environment to record their experiences.
National Public Radio (NPR)
Producer and distributor of noncommercial news, talk,and entertainment - offers ten years of archived audio and information.
The Oral History Society
All about oral history: what oral history
is and how to start recording your own.
Oral History Association
Guidelines and tips for recording your family's oral history.
Poets.org Listening Booth from the Academy of American Poets
Audio files of contemporary poets reading their works.
StoryCorps Griot
From the National Museum of African American History and Culture - an initiative to gather and preserve the stories of African American familes.
WMFE (90.7 FM and Digital Channel 24)
Local Central Florida radio and television public broadcasts that cover current events, children, families, education, information, and the arts.