Here's your chance to help capture history. The Military Collection of the State Archives of North Carolina is seeking volunteers to interview veterans. Currently, there are more than 1,100 interviews in the Military Collection and now more veterans are asked to share their military experiences in times of war or peace.
Training for those interested in being volunteer interviewers will be April 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources auditorium, State Archives/State Library Building, 109 E. Jones St., Raleigh. The training will include three one-hour sessions and a Q&A period covering aspects of the program, such as best practices for interviewing and how the program will operate.
Residents of Wake, Johnston, Chatham, Lee, Wilson, Nash, Franklin, Durham, Orange, Granville, Vance or Franklin counties are being sought. Registration is required and space is limited. To register call (919) 807-7310. Additional training in Raleigh and other regional locations is planned.
This training session will be led by Military Collection archivist Matthew Peek who will provide equipment and support. Volunteers will study the oral history program's volunteer guidelines and training to record the experiences of North Carolina's military personnel's service.
"It does not matter whether you want to do one or 50 interviews, the program is designed to fit the interviews with individual schedules and personal interests," says Peek. "The goal is to match veterans willing to be interviewed with trained volunteers who can accommodate the veterans' schedules."
Paid parking is available in the lot across the street from the State Archives building with limited street parking. There will be a lunch break at noon, so please bring your lunch or visit close by restaurants. After lunch will be a Q&A session.
The Military Collection in the State Archives is within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.