Clarkston Community Historical Society tape interviewed several long-time Clarkston residents 15 years ago. Now they’re in the process of trying to transcribe the interviews, but it hasn’t been easy.
They still need permission from family members of seven people, Jean Clark Rosborough, Gladus Jones Porritt, Bill Kelly, Tom Boothby, Mary Gulick Soulby, Belle Walter McIntyre, and Edson Lenard.
‘Part of the problem is I am trying to pick up on a project that was done 15 years ago by a whole different group of people,? said Toni Smith, Heritage Museum director. ‘In some cases we have the tapes but not permission slips. In others, we’re still trying locate other parts of it, so we’re trying to put this all together and make it right.?
Smith said transcriptions are being done with the help of Lynn Simmons, who is a former court reporter.
‘The equipment I had for court reporting is also helpful in transcribing oral histories,? said Simmons. ‘It’s not just the equipment. It’s the knowledge of how to do it, how to use the equipment effectively to do the oral history transcripts.?
Simmons has been involved in oral histories for 20 years through the Michigan Oral History Association. However, she said a transcript cannot be produced if there isn’t permission for the content to be reviewed by people.
‘If I transcribed it and there was not permission, then it couldn’t be released for historical research or use of any kind,? Simmons said.
Smith said the other reason for wanting a paper copy of the interviews is so they don’t lose the information.
‘By getting them transcribed the stories will remain within the collection,? She said. ‘We won’t wake up to find that we can’t listen to them because there are no cassette players anymore.?
Simmons said historical societies are interested in people’s artifacts and stories because ‘the people who know won’t be around forever to tell.?
‘Just because someone says ‘all my relatives are dead now and I’m the only one that knows this stuff,? that doesn’t mean what they have to say isn’t valuable. It’s just what they call ‘hearsay? and that’s a source on finding out and validating historical information,? she said. ‘Ultimately the community benefits by all these stories.?
If you know of any family or friends of the seven people interviewed, call Toni Smith at the Clarkston Heritage Museum, 248-922-0270.