In Fall 2008, Gainesville became part of an extraordinary project--StoryCorps. For almost a month, North Central Florida Residents had the chance to interview each other about their lives and experiences, recording those interviews both for themselves and the Library of Congress. The interviews provided a unique look into the history and culture of our area.

WUFT-FM has been privileged to take the interviews, and share excerpts which allow listeners to hear these special perspectives. Several of these will air on Morning Edition the week of March 9-13, with a two part special, "Stories From North Florida: A StoryCorps Special", which airs March 17th and the 19th.

Those stories airing on Morning Edition include:

• Joel Buchanan
  One of the most significant events in Gainesville's history was the integration of the public schools in 1964. And a young man at the center of that was an 11th grader named Joel Buchanan. He went on to make the area's African-American history his passion, working with the University of Florida's Smathers Library. But he told colleague and friend Florida Bridgewater-Alford how he helped shape that history.
• Sandy Cosgrave
  Some changes were dramatic and public--others, more personal. The latter is the case with Sandy Cosgrave, who came to terms with her lesbianism in a time--the early 70's-- where many state and local leaders were actively hunting for gays and lesbians. Cosgrave told her friend Betsy Skinner that the toll that living a secret life took, was just one of several battles going on inside.
  -Read a poem Sandy wrote about her struggle.
  
• Stephen Hunter
  Few periods were as traumatic as the Vietnam War era. Like many campuses, the University of Florida saw large rallies of students protesting the war and government policy. Such was the environment Stephen Hunter encountered when he returned to Gainesville from his tour overseas with the Marines in Vietnam in the early 70's. He described what it was like to his wife Sharon.
• Craig Hardin
  Not all changes in North Florida may have been immediately clear. One of the slowest--but most lasting--has been the development of Florida's land. Craig Hardin had a front seat for that. He told his wife Debbie about his grandfather's love for the land--and how he has tried to keep that vison of Florida alive, in song.
• J.T. Glisson
  Perhaps the North Florida resident with the greatest claim to fame is author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. The Pulitzer Prize winning author left her mark on many places--and many people. One of those was a young boy, Jake Glisson, who served as the inspiration for the boy in her famed novel, The Yearling. Glisson went on to become a writer in his own right. He and friend Marilyn Maple talked about how both authors were shaped by the region and its people.

Listen to the full two part special, "Stories From North Florida".

• Part 1 (Tuesday, March 17th)--Stories include Debbie Hardin, who talks with her husband, Craig, about his grandfather, an old Florida cattleman; Sharron Hunter, who interviews her husband Stephen about his experience as a Marine in Vietnam and how he came to be an activist for peace; and Florida Bridgewater-Alford, who sits down with friend and colleague Joel Buchanan, who was one of the first students to integrate Gainesville High School.
  
• Part 2 (Thursday, March 19th)--Stories include include Nickie Kortus, who talks with her mother, Jeanette Mullins, about her childhood in France and how it shaped her views on child-rearing; Kristin Joos, who sits down with her father, Ron Joos, about coming out and tolerance; and Cathy Dewitt, who interviews Barbara Esrig about a near-death experience and how it changed her life.
  --Read some of Barbara Esrig's essays about her accident and its aftermath.