2. Durkeeville – Who are we?
Durkeeville is an historic black neighborhood, bordering
Springfield and La Villa to the west. Founded just after the Civil
War by land speculator, J. H. Durkee, the plots in Durkeeville were
the first chance for many former slaves to own their own land and
houses.
3. Durkeeville Historical Society – Who
are we?
Founded in 1998, the Durkeeville Historical Society strives to preserve the
rich past of Durkeeville for future generations and to promote the area
today to prepare for the future. We operate the Durkeeville Historical
Center, full of exhibits, photographs, and artifacts.
4. Durkeeville Historical Society – what
are we doing?
We at DHS are capturing oral histories and memories from long-time Durkeeville
residents, in order to preserve these precious stories of life and growing up in
Durkeeville. Many young people have no idea what living under segregation was
like, or how the Civil Rights struggles played out here in their hometown. With
these oral histories, these events can be recalled from actual participants.
5. Durkeeville Historical Society – what
do we need?
We at DHS are fortunate that our President, Lloyd
Washington, is a renowned and internationally-known
video journalist. His guiding hand has made the oral
histories that we have already collected focused,
fascinating, and relevant.
We now need a place to store existing oral histories, as well as categorize and
organize them as we continue this vital work. We also need a way for researchers
and visitors to the Center to access and view these histories.
Our proposed solution? A central data repository residing on a server, which can
be organized and cross-referenced, and a listening kiosk in the Center, where
people can view these collected oral histories.
6. Durkeeville Historical Society – Our
Project
• We will need a server with a defined file system
where we can upload current and future oral
histories and round tables.
• We will need an access portal, some software to
allow people to select and play these oral
histories.
• We will need a kiosk, with table and viewing area,
set off by walls from the rest of the Center, so
that people can sit and browse these memories.
7. Durkeeville Historical Society – why
should we do it?
We are already a Center for our community.
We have preserved many artifacts, memorabilia, and
photographs for Durkeeville. We have deep roots in
Durkeeville.
We have already started collecting these oral
histories.
Most importantly, the residents whose memories that we are trying to preserve
are all aging, so the need to complete this project is growing more and more
important.
