Oral History at Buffalo National River

CLICK HERE to listen to Buffalo National River's oral history collection!

To help commemorate the 50th anniversary of Buffalo National River in 2022, we are encouraging people to share their stories of the river and local communities by creating an oral history. An oral history is a way to learn about the past by interviewing friends or relatives and documenting their memories. By using these oral histories, we can gain a better understanding of what the past looked like.

Become a virtual volunteer and help give back by gathering stories from your friends or family members who have a strong connection to the Buffalo River area!

To get started:

1. Decide on a person to interview. Think about interviewing someone who loves to share their memories of the past with others.
2. Find a day that works for both of you to set aside some time to talk. Can’t meet in person? A phone call or video chat will work fine too!
3. Create an account at StoryCorps and join the Buffalo River Oral History Community. You can either use your own audio recording equipment (like your phone) or use the StoryCorps online platform or app to record.
4. Get ready to start! Be sure you have your interviewee’s permission to record your conversation. Have a pencil and paper so you can take notes while you and your interviewee are talking. On the community page you can find a list of questions to ask your interviewee.
5. Ready to share your story with us? Upload your oral history and photos to our community page and help the world learn about the history of the Buffalo.

Want to learn more about oral history in the NPS? Explore its role in helping tell a piece of history here.

Informed Consent Form

1. You are participating in an interview in connection with the Buffalo National River Oral History Project, a project from StoryCorps, the National Park Service, and other community partners.You are being asked to participate because of your deep connection to the Buffalo River. Your photographs may be uploaded for the same project.

2. The interview will be audiotaped, transcribed, and made available for public and scholarly use on the online platform StoryCorps, with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. The National Park Service and its partners may use your interview and digitized photographs.

3. There are no anticipated risks to participation in this interview. However, you can delete your interview at any time. With your permission, your photographs or a photograph of you may be taken or submitted to StoryCorps. If you withdraw from the project the digital images will be deleted.

4. Subject to the provisions of paragraph five below, upon completion of the interview, the recording and content of the interview belong to the Buffalo National River Oral History Project and the information in the interview can be used by Buffalo National River Oral History Project in any manner it will determine, including, but not limited to, future use by researchers in presentations and publications.

5. The Buffalo National River Oral History Project agrees that:

A. It will not use or exercise any of its rights to the information in the interview prior to your interview submission to the community page.

B. By submitting an interview to the Buffalo River Oral History Project community page you have agreed to this informed consent form.

C. Restrictions on the use and access of the interview can be placed while uploading your interview to StoryCorps. The Buffalo River Oral History Project will only use submissions from the Buffalo National River Oral History Project community page.

6. After you submit an interview to the community page, the recording and photographs will be kept with StoryCorps, and housed at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in DC. Additional copies may be located at the Buffalo National River or with other community partners.

7. If you have questions about the research project or procedures, you can contact Lauren Ray: e-mail us