Illinois Residents Invited to Preserve Their Stories in the Library of Congress

Illinois residents are invited to share their personal stories, memories, and reflections as part of a statewide initiative to preserve their voices for future generations.

Illinoisans Have a Chance to Make History

The program, known as Illinois Voices 250, is designed to collect audio recordings from people across the state and archive them permanently at the Library of Congress.

The Illinois America 250 Commission leads the initiative in partnership with Illinois Humanities and StoryCorps Studios as part of the commemoration of America's 250th anniversary.

Recording Sessions Open Across Illinois

Community recording days are free public events where participants sit down with a conversation partner and record a brief conversation about their family experiences, family history, community connections, or hopes for the future.

Participants may be asked questions like: "What's a story from your family that you want to be remembered?" or "What kind of future do you hope ot see by the country's 300th anniversary?"

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The goal is to capture a diverse collection of voices that reflect the experiences of people from every corner of Illinois.

Creating a Lasting Historical Record

Chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission, Gabrielle Lyon, said the project is intended to make the nation's 250th birthday celebration inclusive, accessible, and representative of communities statewide.

We’re excited to invite Illinoisans to share their wisdom, experiences, stories and hopes for America to inspire future generations as we mark 250 years of the United States. -Gabrielle Lyon, chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission and executive director of Illinois Humanities

Organizers say the recordings will serve as a valuable historical archive, preserving the perspectives, wisdom, and experiences of Illinoisians for generations to come.

Upcoming Recording Event

One of the first scheduled recording sessions will take place on June 25 at the Little Village Public Library, located at 2311 S. Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additional recording opportunities will be added throughout the summer and can be found HERE. If you're unable to attend an in-person recording event, you can submit a recording online by clicking HERE.