**Oral History
Subcommittee**![](media/image1.png){width="1.198611111111111in"
height="1.2034722222222223in"}

**Friday, October 5, 2007, 4 p.m.**

**DOE Information Center**

+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| **[Committee Members               | **[Others                       |
| Present]{.underline}**             | present]{.underline}**          |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Rhonda Bogard                      | Luther Gibson                   |
|                                    |                                 |
| Hubert Gibson                      | Spencer Gross, Spectrum         |
|                                    |                                 |
| Kathy McNeilly, Oak Ridge Public   |                                 |
| Library                            |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Susie Stooksbury, Oak Ridge Public |                                 |
| Library                            |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Steve Stow, Lead                   |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| **[Absent]{.underline}**           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Donna Campbell                     |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| David Bradshaw                     |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Pat Halsey, Department of          |                                 |
| Energy-Oak Ridge Office (DOE-ORO)  |                                 |
| Norman Mulvenon                    |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+

**[Discussion of Workshop Details]{.underline}**

The group discussed details for the workshop including name tags for
known participants, making sure the viewer in the DOE Information is set
up to show both VHS and DVD programs of completed oral histories, the
availability of flip charts for making notes, and writing tablets at
each table

During the breakout sessions to discuss workshop objectives a member of
the subcommittee will be at each table.

Mr. Bradshaw was not in attendance, but Mr. Stow said he would contact
him and give him guidance on his role as facilitator.

Mr. Gross will take notes of the meeting and write a report of the
outcome.

Ms. McNeilly asked what the end product of the workshop is anticipated.
Mr. Stow said he hopes there will be some unity among the participants
to consolidate an oral history program and perhaps some group will step
up and take a leadership role. He thought there might be development of
a recommendation to search for a source of funding for an oral history
program. He hoped a place will be identified to house and manage oral
histories. He also hopes an oversight group will be formed to act as an
advisory panel for an oral history program.

**[Discussion of letter from Gerald Boyd and Ted Sherry]{.underline}**

Mr. Stow said he had had a conversation with Dave Adler, the DOE liaison
to the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board (ORSSAB). Mr. Adler said
there was concern in the DOE Oak Ridge Office that ORSSAB may want to
take control of the oral history program. He said there has also been
concern that some oral histories already done have no relationship to
DOE or have not been properly cleared.

Mr. Stow said it should be made clear during the workshop that ORSSAB
has no interest in taking over the program, but is simply trying to
facilitate consolidation of the program among the various players.

Mr. Stow said while this group has talked about the Oak Ridge Public
Library being the repository for consolidated oral histories, that
should not be presented as the preference, just an option.

Mr. Stow said the letter from Messrs. Boyd and Sherry (Attachment 1)
noted that the East Tennessee Technology Park Site Interpretation
Memorandum of Agreement states that the American Museum of Science and
Energy may be the repository for oral histories. The letter also says
oral histories will be included in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Interpretive Plan.

Mr. Stow said the museum may not be as interested in housing oral
histories as when the memorandum of agreement was written. He also said
while the museum would play a part in an oral history program, it is
probably not the best place for researchers and others to review oral
histories.

Ms. Bogard noted that entities that already have oral histories can keep
what they have, but there should be a place where duplicates of oral
histories can be stored in one central location for public access.

**[StoryCorps]{.underline}**

Ms. Stooksbury brought to the group's attention a program called
StoryCorps that allows anyone to record oral histories about themselves,
their families, or communities (Attachment 2). A 'storybooth' would be
set up (at public library, for example) where people can record. She
said such an idea might be a way to do some future Oak Ridge oral
histories.

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

The committee will meet again on Friday, October 26 at 4 p.m. at the DOE
Information Center.

**[Action items]{.underline}**

1.  Ms. Halsey will contact Sheila Thornton and Gary Hartman of DOE
    Cultural Resources about a possible central location for an oral
    history program. **Status.** In the letter from Messrs. Boyd and
    Sherry (Attachment 1) they say they are interested in ORSSAB's view
    on how to advance oral history activities. The letter said
    'appropriate staff' has been asked to meet with the group to discuss
    such efforts. Mr. Adler is responsible for arranging the meeting.

2.  Mr. Mulvenon will talk to John Owsley about possible funding from
    TDEC. **Status.** Mr. Owsley referred Mr. Mulvenon to Joe Garrison
    the State Historic Preservation Officer. To date Mr. Garrison has
    not responded.

3.  Mr. Stow will compile a couple of oral history interviews to show at
    the workshop.

4.  Mr. Stow will contact Dr. Kurt Piehler of the University of
    Tennessee about discussing what constitutes an oral history at the
    workshop. **Status.** Dr. Piehler has indicated he would not be able
    to attend an October 11 workshop, but that his associate Cynthia
    Tinker would probably be able to present.

5.  Ms. Halsey will contact someone at Fernald about discussing at the
    workshop what Fernald has done regarding oral histories at that
    site. **Status.** Mr. Gross talked with Sue Walpole in Ohio about
    the Fernald project. She provided him with some information that
    will be published in the Fall 2007 Advocate newsletter. Ms. Walpole
    said representatives of the Fernald might be interested in attending
    the Oak Ridge workshop. Joyce Bentle with the Fernald Community
    Alliance will receive an invitation to the workshop.

6.  Mr. Stow will contact the major participants about doing
    presentations at the workshop. **Complete.**

Attachments (2) are available on request from the ORSSAB support office.

rsg