Laramie County Library System Receives Carnegie Grant to Develop Oral History Project
Laramie County Library System (LCLS) has received a $10,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie Foundation to support the development of a new Oral History Project designed to collect, preserve, and provide access to the firsthand experiences of people throughout Laramie County.
The project will create new opportunities to preserve local history through the voices and memories of the people who experienced it. Oral history uses recorded interviews to document individual experiences and perspectives, creating primary-source materials that can complement photographs, documents, newspapers, and other historical records. Collected oral histories will be digitized and added to the library’s collection, making these firsthand accounts accessible to the community.
“Some of the most meaningful parts of our community’s history live in the memories and experiences of the people who were there,” said LCLS Executive Director Antonia Gaona. “This project will help us preserve those perspectives and make them part of a collection that our community can continue to learn from for years to come.”
LCLS is currently in the early stages of developing the project, with a public launch anticipated in early 2027. Grant funding will help the library establish the resources and infrastructure needed to collect and preserve oral histories, including oral history kits available for checkout by patrons, space for audio and video interviews at the library, and a listening station for the public. The project will also include recruitment and training of volunteer interviewers.
As the project develops, LCLS will establish collection priorities and identify opportunities for community members to participate. Interviews may include individual life histories as well as perspectives on specific topics or local, national, and international events.
October is Family History Month, highlighting the importance of preserving stories and experiences that connect generations. As a part of the observance, LCLS will host Oral History Essentials, a three-hour seminar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 17 at the main library in Cheyenne.
Presented by oral historian and archivist Leslie Waggener, the seminar will cover recording equipment, legal and ethical considerations, connecting with interviewees, and other essentials of conducting oral history interviews.
Additional information about the LCLS Oral History Project and opportunities to participate will be announced as the project develops.