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StoryCorps: Recording The Lives And Stories Of Everyday Americans StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate the lives of everyday Americans by listening to their stories.
StoryCorps

StoryCorps

Sharing And Preserving The Stories Of Our Lives

Lousiana Jean Charles Choctaw Nation members reflect on their vanishing homeland

For StoryCorps, members of a tribal community in Louisiana reflect on strong storms and a vanishing coastline that is costing them the land where they've lived and farmed for generations.

Lousiana Jean Charles Choctaw Nation members reflect on their vanishing homeland

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Remembering a gay rights trailblazer you may have never heard of

by Jey Born

In the 1970s, John Singer left the Army and changed his name to Faygele Ben-Miriam. Two friends — Patrick Haggerty and Ronni Gilboa — remember the gay rights activist who died in 2000.

Remembering a gay rights trailblazer you may have never heard of

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A remembrance of Sept. 11 from a person working that day at the Pentagon

A mother tells her daughter what it was like being at the Pentagon when a jet tore through the building on Sept. 11, 2001.

A remembrance of Sept. 11 from a person working that day at the Pentagon

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After 4 decades in the classroom, a Texas teacher is keeping history alive

Nelva Williamson, a Houston public school history teacher, didn't think she'd end up in the classroom — even though her mom was a teacher. She tells her son about how her love of learning began.

After 4 decades in the classroom, a Texas teacher is keeping history alive

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Remembering Mary Barr, the first woman to fly for the U.S. Forest Service

by Max Jungreis

Two sisters discuss growing up in California in the 1960s with their mother Mary Barr, who guided tanker planes on a safe path through wildfires.

Remembering Mary Barr, the first woman to fly for the U.S. Forest Service

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2 Charlottesville, Va., residents remember the 2017 'Unite the Right' rally

by Jarrod Sport , Franchesca Peña

Five years ago a car slammed into a crowd of counterprotesters. One person was killed and a dozen injured. Lisa Woolfork was in that crowd. She remembers that day with her friend Kendall King-Sellars.

2 Charlottesville, Va., residents remember the 2017 'Unite the Right' rally

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Her father's wartime piano accompanied joyful moments

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Loretta Berning remembers her father and a cherished Victory Vertical piano made during World War II for our StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative.

Her father's wartime piano accompanied joyful moments

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A daughter keeps her dad's memory alive by restoring his old Ford Mustang

Since he was in high school, Al Plumley could be found under the hood of a car fixing it himself. His daughter Ashley Cosme talks to her husband Nicolas about her dad who died last year.

A daughter keeps her dad's memory alive by restoring his old Ford Mustang

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A mother and her adopted daughter reflect on their closeness

by Zanna K. McKay

Twenty-two years ago a woman traveled to China to adopt a baby girl. She recently sat down with her daughter at StoryCorps to talk about the adoption during the era of China's one-child policy.

A mother and her adopted daughter reflect on their closeness

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A grandfather inspires his grandson to live full of honesty and love

by Jey Born , Jo Corona

When Jeffrey Perri was nine, his grandfather Tony Perri came out to him as gay. Later, Jeffrey also came out. What was already a close relationship became something more meaningful for both of them.

A grandfather inspires his grandson to live full of honesty and love

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Parents remember a son killed ten years ago at a movie theater mass shooting

Two parents remember their son who was killed in a mass shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado ten years ago.

Parents remember a son killed ten years ago at a movie theater mass shooting

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A doctor's condolence letter was much more than a piece of paper

by Janmaris Perez

Robert Carolla was 11 years old when his younger brother died of leukemia in 1953. Carolla, who later became a physician, remembers the letter a doctor wrote to his family when his brother died.

A doctor's condolence letter was much more than a piece of paper

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Black lab technicians at Johns Hopkins remember the man who changed their lives

by Emily Martinez ,

Fred Gilliam and Jerry Harris remember Vivien Thomas, who in the '60s ran a research lab at Johns Hopkins Hospital, helping invent surgical techniques — even though he didn't have a medical degree.

Black lab technicians at Johns Hopkins remember the man who changed their lives

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Remembering a murdered doctor who performed abortions despite threats to his life

by Aisha Turner

Rabbi David Young and Cantor Natalie Young were expecting their second son in 2006. Late in the pregnancy, they learned their baby would not survive. They went to Kansas to see Dr. George Tiller.

Remembering a murdered doctor who performed abortions despite threats to his life

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Daughters remember their father — the man who brought Juneteenth to San Diego

by Janmaris Perez

Long before Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday, Sidney Cooper had been celebrating the hallowed day for decades. Lana Cooper-Jones and Marla Cooper remember their father who died in 2001.

Daughters remember their father — the man who brought Juneteenth to San Diego

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After her friend's death, their families were combined into one

by Eleanor Vassili

In this week's StoryCorps, a single mother of five recalls what happened when she agreed to take care of three more children after her friend died of cancer.

After her friend's death, their families were combined into one

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A survivor of the Columbine shooting returned to teach at the school

by Mia Warren , Jey Born , Annie Russell

In this week's StoryCorps, we hear about a student who endured the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, and later returned to the school as a teacher.

A survivor of the Columbine shooting returned to teach at the school

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A counselor at Mississippi's only abortion clinic shares her story

by Eleanor Vassili , Jud Esty-Kendall

In this week's StoryCorps, a worker at Mississippi's last remaining clinic that performs abortions, talks about her experiences.

A counselor at Mississippi's only abortion clinic shares her story

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Hospice worker excelled at caregiving after being inspired by his grandmother

by Jo Corona

Hajime Koyama, who goes by Issan, is a retired hospice worker. He came to StoryCorps to remember his grandmother who shaped is understanding of grief and inspired him to care for those who are dying.

Hospice worker excelled at caregiving after being inspired by his grandmother

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Remembering Latasha Harlins, whose death helped setoff unrest in Los Angeles

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A brother and sister remember Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in 1991 by a store clerk in South Central Los Angeles — the same month Rodney King was beaten.

Remembering Latasha Harlins, whose death helped setoff unrest in Los Angeles

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