The Morton Museum is teaming up with the Town of Collierville to launch an initiative aimed at capturing the essence of community history straight from the source—its residents. Dubbed the "In Their Words: Collierville Oral History Project," this new endeavor is a call to arms for anyone with tales to tell of their life in this Tennessee town. From growing up, to doing business, to giving time back through volunteer work—if you've got memories, they're ready to listen.
Structured as casual, coffee-shop-style chats, these interviews offer a platform for a diverse array of voices to contribute to the historical tapestry of Collierville. By scheduling conversations primarily on Mondays, the project opens its arms to either current or past residents, as well as those who feel a pertinent connection to Collierville's story. A preference is pointed toward those who have lived or worked in the town, but the door is clearly open to all with meaningful experiences to share.
As per an announcement on the Town of Collierville's official website, the interviews are no interrogations—they're meant to be comfortable, no more than an hour, and led by museum staff adept at driving the narrative in a way that's natural. The project's online application portal is now open, and interested parties are encouraged to apply for a chance at enshrining their stories in local history.
Embracing the notion that every story contributes a thread to the community's larger narrative, the Morton Museum and the Town of Collierville are positioning the “In Their Words” project as a celebratory act of preservation. "Your story matters, and we can't wait to hear it," reads the project's clarion call as published on September 29th, inviting any and all connected to the fabric of Collierville to weave in their experiences. The ultimate goal? Celebrate Collierville, one conversation at a time.
