STORIES ABOUT MAINE PEOPLE AND THEiR PLACES

Story Bank Maine records the histories, talents, and voices of people from all over the state. Inspired by StoryCorps, our goal is to listen and share narratives about Maine people and their places.

Story Bank Maine is produced by audio specialist Rob Rosenthal of SALT and folklorist Kathleen Mundell with music by Peter Dembski. Traveling around the state, we sometimes use a mobile recording booth, other times; we interview people in their home or community. We provide a CD copy of each interview to participants and all of these recordings are archived at the Maine Folklife Center. Several of these recordings are edited and produced for public and community radio. We also post these edited versions on storybankmaine.org where people can subscribe to the recordings as a pod cast.

Acadian Home Cooking
Acadian chef Michael Corbin of Madawaska shares his love of food and family.


We Had to Be Genuis
Sam Small and his friend Meredith Dondis recall growing up Jewish in Maine.


A Different Way Life Can Be
Gemma Laser recalls her back-to-the-land upbringing in Dexter.


The Five Minute Picture
Tad Hunter of Topsham shares the art of cutting hay.


Remembering Tough Times
Master boat builder John Connors shares his stories of St. Francis.


Growing Up Franco
Mona Lothian remembers her French Canadian childhood in Lewiston.


The Way Food Should Be
First Lady Karen Baldacci shares her garden and canning experiences.


This Isn't Something You Just Go Buy
Pam Cunningham & Tracy Neptune Ray on Penobscotfancy basket-making.


Please Don't Say "I Got Stung by a Bee"
Master Bee Keeper Carol Cottrill talks about bees.


The Farmland of Bowdoinham
David Prout & Frank Connors chat about farming and farmland preservation.

STORY BANK INSTITUTE
The Story Bank Institute, co-sponsored by the Maine Folklife Center, trains people on collecting, documenting and presenting local stories. Taught by a team of documentary specialists and folklorists, Institute participants learn fieldwork techniques, audio and video recording, digital photography, archiving as well as how to developing public presentations. This Year’s Institute is scheduled for June, 2010 at the University of Maine, Orono, contact Folklife@maine.edu

(Photo: Jim Starkey, Videographer teaching Story Bank Institute
participants at University of Maine)

As part of an ongoing collaboration with Maine Folklife Center, Story Bank Maine is funded by the Maine Community Foundation, the Davis Foundation, the MAine Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.