People throughout Southern New Mexico are getting the chance to act as their own storytellers with the help of StoryCorps. StoryCorps’ mobile recording booth started collecting stories yesterday at the Las Cruces Museum of Art.
Many who listen to NPR are familiar with the fascinating stories they get to hear from StoryCorps, people throughout the Las Cruces area are now getting their chance to participate by using the mobile recording booth.
StoryCorps’ Mobile Tour Site Manager Stacey Todd says StoryCorps gives people the opportunity to really listen to the people they care about.
“You don’t have to cry,” Todd said. “Laughter is appreciated, but yeah it’s bringing in your mother, or your cousin, or your coworker and just asking them a question that you might never have the opportunity to ask otherwise.”
First up in the booth in Las Cruces was New Mexico State University President Garrey Carruthers. He says he likes the opportunity to tell his own story.
“At least I got a chance to tell my side of the story,” Carruthers said. “I’ve been in public life for a long time. There is several other sides to the story of my life, but once in a while you get the opportunity to archive what you want to archive.”
Carruthers was excited to share the experience with his daughter.
“Generally speaking these are about family,” Carruthers said. “The ones I’ve listened to are about family and family members talking to each other, often times about things that maybe you haven’t gone over before, and so I’m looking forward to discussing some things that maybe we just haven’t gotten a chance to chat about.”
Site Manager Stacey Todd says the booth is a comfortable and safe space that helps people to open up.
“We close the door and there is just this calm energy that permeates,” Todd said. “And it just encourages a more intimate conversation, and you can just slow down and really look each other in the eye, and it’s very profound sometimes what happens. But it doesn’t have to be overly emotional; you don’t have to have a narrative story to tell us. Just having a conversation with a loved one.”
Las Cruces Museums is partnering with KRWG to help provide the opportunity to bring Story Corps to Southern New Mexico. Rebecca Slaughter is the Museum System Administrator; she says the everyday stories of people provide a great insight into history.
“Learning things about everyday people really puts your own family in perspective,” Slaughter said. “Sometimes when you hear about presidents or great world leaders you can’t really relate them to yourself. And so when you hear a story, just about, my great aunt was a WAC, and so to hear about WWII through her eyes is so much more exciting to me then reading dates, and books and battles and that kind of stuff, so I think it’s the most important thing we share as historians.”
With participants’ permission, stories told through StoryCorps will be archived in the Library of Congress at the American Folklife Center.
StoryCorps will be in Las Cruces through January 31st and appointments are still available. To make an appointment to share your story visit our website at KRWG.ORG and click on the StoryCorps link.
