Nevada Voices History

Nevada Voices History

In 2005, the University of Nevada Oral History Program (UNOHP) proposed the creation of a "Nevada Voices" Web site that would make a selection of the program's oral histories more accessible to teachers and students by providing modules centered on various themes in Nevada history. The idea for the project came from feedback from teachers and librarians following the CD release of the UNOHP's entire transcript collection (1965-2003). While educators were appreciative of having the material available, it became apparent that teachers did not have the time to search through the oral histories to find appropriate sections for use with their classes. In order to address this need, Mary Larson, the UNOHP's assistant director, contacted Sue Davis of the Washoe County School District's Teaching American History Project (TAHP). Ms. Davis gathered a group of interested teachers, and they met with UNOHP staff to discuss a) whether or not the educators thought the Web site would be useful in their classrooms, and b) what topics should be addressed. The teachers in attendance agreed that such a resource would be a benefit. They were then provided with a form that allowed them to rank a list of topics (while suggesting others), so that the UNOHP could determine what subjects would fit with the current curriculum. This form was also distributed to another focus group of TAHP educators for their responses. The results indicate the most interest in the subjects of the Civil Rights Movement, World War II, mining, and Virginia City and the Comstock.

In conversations with Tara Shepperson of the Online Nevada Encyclopedia (ONE), it became apparent that the materials to be selected for this proposed project would also be useful beyond the classroom and that they could be incorporated into what the ONE was compiling. At that point, the UNOHP began to work with both groups to arrive at appropriate topics and formats.

The UNOHP received funds for the project from the Library Service and Technology Act and from Nevada Humanities. Program staff selected audio and text portions that are relevant to the above subjects and that represent various perspectives on the issues, and these selections are presented on the Web site in topical modules. The modules are sub-divided into subject-based components. Other collateral material, such as photographs, maps, documents, and video clips, may be added as the site is further developed. The UNOHP will be contracting with TAHP educators to produce lesson plans for the various topics, and these will be mounted on the district's Web site as they become available, with links to and from the UNOHP site.

UNOHP staff for the "Nevada Voices" project (in alphabetical order):
Kathleen Coles - administrative support
William Cook - selection of transcript excerpts, clipping of audio segments
Mary Larson - management of project, coordination with TAHP and ONE, editing
Allison Tracy - Web page programming, biographical research, audio-text corroboration, and editing
Kathryn Wright-Ross - audio digitization