Title:  In My Neighborhood…

Part of being a child is being curious about the world we live in.  Children spend a lot of their childhood exploring and discovering their neighborhoods and finding out all of the interesting things about them.  As part of the 31st Annual Jubilee Festival of Heritage, students in grades K-12 are invited to participate in an oral history contest to celebrate the history and diversity of Columbia’s neighborhoods.   Neighborhoods are a vital part to any city and give a city character.  Each child’s work will be used to document the change in Columbia’s neighborhoods over time. 

Interview someone over 65 years old about their childhood in one of Columbia’s neighborhoods.  Entry Categories are:

• Elementary I - Kindergarten – 2nd grade
• Elementary II - 3rd – 5th grade
• Middle School - 6th – 8th grade
• High School - 9th – 12th grade

The winner of each age group will get a prize and will have their interview transcriptions published in a local paper.  Historic Columbia Foundation will add the interviews to its documentation on local neighborhoods and the winning interviews will be recorded and played at the Modjeska-Simkins House during the day of the Jubilee Festival on September 12, 2009 from 11:00-5:00.  The festival is located at the Mann-Simons historic site at the corner of Marion and Richland Streets.

Rules and Regulations: On each entry, please write the student’s name, student’s phone number, grade level, teacher’s name and e-mail (if teacher is assisting student), the school’s name and district.

Oral History Interviews:

• All interviews must be transcribed, meaning each interview and conversation must be written or typed.
•  Interviews must be of a resident who lived in Columbia during their childhood.
•  Entries may be submitted on a CD, by e-mail, or paper. 
• While a recording of the interview is encouraged, it is not necessary. 

Deadline: All entries must be received by Friday, September 4th, at 5:00 PM.  Winners will be notified.  Entries may be dropped off in person at the Robert Mills House Museum at 1616 Blanding Street, or mailed to:

Attn:  James Quint
Historic Columbia Foundation
1601 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201