Oral Histories

Oral Histories Now on YouTube

Video recordings from the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Oral History Project are now available on YouTube. Dedicated to capturing the memories of members of our community, the Oral History Project was conceived in 2012 as part of Lea County’s New Mexico Centennial celebration.  The Centennial Committee provided some initial seed-money, which combined with a grant from the J. F Maddox Foundation made it possible for us to purchase video recording and editing equipment. Another grant from the Maciolek Fine Arts Trust helped us hire a film editor and now our first group of oral histories are available on the Western Heritage Museum’s YouTube Channel. We thank all of these sponsors for their support.

What is Oral History? Oral History refers to “both the method of recording and preserving a first-person narrative as a permanent record to contribute to an understanding of the past.”  It has been said, “Every time an old person dies, it is as if a library burned down.” As a community resource, the Museum’s Oral History Project is committed to preserving the stories, traditions, and anecdotes from the people who know them the best, lest they be lost for later generations. 

The practice of recording Oral Histories dates back to the Great Depression.  During that time, a New Deal jobs program called the “Federal Writers’ Project” employed more than 300 writers on a Folklore Project. Writers equipped with pen paper and audio recording equipment were sent out across the country to capture the life stories of Americans who had been born during the previous century. “Slave Narratives,” the first-hand accounts of those who were born into slavery, are preserved for posterity and can be accessed at the National Archives website along with transcripts and photos from every state. First-hand accounts about the famous outlaw Billy the Kid are among the stories recorded by the writers sent to New Mexico. 

Please enjoy our first group of Oral Histories Narrators, who kindly shared their stories. They are listed in alphabetical order: Dorthy Bess; B.J. Caudill (remembered by his grandson); Gene Cessnun; Brice Chapman; Jerry Clayton (remembered by his family); Dallas Family; Johnny Etcheverry (remembered by Nancy Etcheverry); Da Vita Houston’s Family; Mark Jelenek; Kress Jones; Giles Lee Family; Bert Madera; Sylvia Mahoney; Bonnie Moran; Former Congressman Steve Pearce; Tom Pearson Family; Karen Salb; Kenny Smith (remembered by Pat Smith); Smith Family. Some of the interviewees are members of the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame. Some have been honored as Silver Concho Awardees. Others are members of the community who have made contributions in the arts and the culture. There are also some short vignettes entitled, “Lea County Memories” — you might recognize your friends and neighbors!

We will continue to record Oral Histories and look forward to making more of them available soon. Do you know someone who would be a good subject for an interview? Contact Mary Lyle mlyle@nmjc.edu. To access WHM Oral Histories, go to our website www.nmjc.edu/museumand click on the “Education” tab, “Resources” and “Oral Histories.” 

[1]“Principles and Best Practices.” Oral History Association, www.oralhistory.org/about/princips-and-practices-revised-2009/.