Newton, NC – The Historical Association of Catawba County is seeking your help in preserving stories by nominating someone for recognition at the upcoming event Honoring Catawban Workers in conjunction with the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, The Way We Worked. Nominations are being sought for workers who have interesting or memorable stories about their work in these industries: furniture, ceramics, textiles, agriculture, and fiber optics.
Selected honorees will be interviewed for an oral history, receive two free tickets to the recognition event, and receive a copy of the final DVD. To receive a nomination form, contact [email protected] or on the website at http://catawbahistory.org/nominate. The nomination deadline is July 6.
Honoring Catawban Workers will be one of the highlights of The Way We Worked Smithsonian exhibition to be viewed August 10 through September 18, 2018. The Historical Association of Catawba County has been expressly chosen by the NC Humanities Council to host The Way We Worked as part of the Museum on Main Street project – a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. The Way We Worked, an exhibition created by the National Archives, is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the North Carolina Humanities Council and made possible by support from the Porter Durham Family. The exhibition will tour six communities in North Carolina.
The Way We Worked, adapted from an original exhibition developed by the National Archives and Records Administration, explores how work has become a central element in American culture. It traces the many changes that have affected the workforce and work environments over the past 150 years, including the growth of manufacturing and increasing use of technology. The exhibition draws from the Archives’ rich collections, including historical photographs, archival accounts of workers, film, audio and interactives, to tell the compelling story of how work impacts our individual lives and the historical and cultural fabric of our communities. The Historical Association of Catawba County will expand the exhibition to localize it for Catawba County.
“We need the community to assist with preserving our stories,” shared Dr. Amber Albert. “Catawba County would not be where we are today without the workers on farms, factories, in homes, and at desks to keep the community thriving. We encourage the community to share interesting or memorable stories about their work and nominate someone for the Honoring Catawban Workers.”
Learn more about the Historical Association of Catawba County or the “Way We Worked” at www.catawbahistory.org, by calling (828) 465-0383 or by visiting the History Museum at 30 North College Ave. in downtown Newton. Hours are 9am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free.
