As part of programming surrounding No Longer Empty’s exhibition at the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse, ‘When You Cut Into The Present The Future Leaks Out’, The New York Public Library’s ‘Community Oral History Program’, local community residents are invited to collect the oral histories of our neighborhoods of Melrose and Morrisania.
Once local residents are trained in interviewing our fellow friends, family members, neighbors and local residents and the interviews are completed, the results will be archived at the Melrose Public Library on Morris Avenue and 162nd Street as well as online for future generations to come.
Several months ago The New York Public Library completed ‘Voices from East of Bronx Park: An Oral History Project of the Allerton, Van Nest, Pelham Parkway and Morris Park Communities‘ so be sure to take a look at that so you can see what we can create for our own neighborhoods down here.
The program begins this Thursday at the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse and the description is as follows:
“Cut Into the Past: Reclaiming Our Narratives” at the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse
Presented by No Longer Empty and the NYPL Community Oral History Program as part of the art exhibition: “When You Cut Into the Present, the Future Leaks Out” (April 23 – July 19, 2015)
Date: Thursday, May 14 from 6:30-8:00pm
Address: 878 Brook Ave (at East 161 St and Third Ave)
Directions: 2 or 5 train to 3 Ave-149 St
Join No Longer Empty and the New York Public Library Community Oral History Program as we invite the Melrose and Morrisania communities back into the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse to collect diverse accounts about the historic landmark building, and surrounding neighborhoods.
NYPL Adult Programming Coordinator Alexandra Kelly will inaugurate this unique archive with an interview from Anthony Schepis, former Executive Assistant District Attorney at the Bronx DA’s Office, to be followed by information on how to participate by interviewing your own neighbors, family, and colleagues who lived and worked in and around the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse.
Community Oral History interviews will continue on an ongoing basis at 878 Brook Avenue through July 19, 2015 and will be collected and archived at the New York Public Library for use by future generations.
Thursday’s Kick-Off event will be followed by Interviewer Training Sessions on the following dates:
Saturday, May 16 10am -12pm.
Thursday, May 19 6:30pm – 8pm.
To RSVP please visit No Longer Empty’s event page at nolongerempty.org.
More information about the New York Public Library’s Community Oral History Project can be found at oralhistory.nypl.org.
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