GATHERING ORAL HISTORIES BEGINS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY        2011                     Northridge100

On Saturday, January 22, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley began its first campaign to secure important personal histories of Valley residents. Narrating Lives - Oral Histories of the San Fernando Valley, is the beginning of The Museum's permanent commitment to securing the histories of individuals and organizations that impact our community's culture and lifestyles. Narrating Lives, sponsored through a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will activate Valley leaders to learn practical ways of securing oral histories, gather vital histories and to share the results with educational institutions across our city.

 Scott Sterling, Chairman of Narrating Lives - Oral Histories of the San Fernando Valley, addresses key North Valley residents. Scott is the owner of Sterling Construction and a community activist.

A modest grant will not capture all of the valuable histories of Valley residents, but it is a very important first step. Oral history interviews will concentrate on people who reside or who have lived and worked in the Northern regions of the Valley, with a special emphasis on artists and those who have been part of the entertainment arts. However, the endangered histories from the entire Valley will also be acquired.

The great Elisabeth Waldo addresses community volunteers who set to work on the Narrating Lives - Oral Histories of the San Fernando Valley. Ms. Walso is a composer, violinist, songwriter, producer and conductor. She creates multi-cultural events in music and the arts from her Rancho Cordillera del Norte in Northridge.

 Mitch Englander, from Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith's office, addresses the gathering on the importance of the oral histories project.

Member of the Oral Histories Committee, Semee Park, explains the process of nominating people to be interviewed and the interviewing process.