The Interact and Octagon Clubs of Gilmer High School, located in Ellijay, Georgia, are beginning a student Oral History Project under the direction of their sponsors, Dr. Mark Stallings, a science teacher, and Ms. Lucy Harris, an English teacher.  The first part of the project will involve interview training for the students involved, location of people who experienced the “American Chestnut Culture,” and recording of their stories.  The ultimate goal is to publish these true accounts as part of the history of the American Chestnut Tree.

During the first part of the project, students will receive training on how to conduct the interviews by using scripts and actually observing live interviews.  Each interview will be audio and video recorded with full permission granted by the interviewees.  The audio portion will be transcribed and edited and formatted into a manuscript form suitable for possible publication.  A list of possible interviewees has been initiated, and we would appreciate any additions from our members.

The video portion will be edited and used as part of a half-hour special on ETC TV3 as part of the Education Matters series, which highlights the importance of education to the mountain communities.  The work of these students will be highlighted on this special program as well as provide the Oral History participants the opportunity to tell their stories about how the American Chestnut tree affected their lives and what happened after the blight.

The students involved in this project range in age from tenth grade to twelfth grade at Gilmer High School and are already involved in a wide variety of projects in their school and community.  The Interact Club of Gilmer High School is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gilmer County, and the Octagon Club is sponsored by the Cartecay Optimist Club.  The sponsor of the Interact Club is Dr. Mark Stallings and the sponsor of the Octagon Club is Ms. Lucy Harris.  You may contact Dr. Stallings  with any information about the project.