The best kind of history? First-hand from people who lived it. You get a feeling for the times, see events through borrowed eyes, and have the opportunity to experience what life back then was like for those who lived through it. And the interviewers, who took the time and effort to create a slide show with photographs and other memorabilia, made these oral histories entertaining and enlightening. Enjoy

these vibrant oral histories, created in a collaborative project involving New College of Florida and Sarasota County from 2009 to 2017. Over 30 interviews really bring our local history to life. Watch and listen, or read the transcripts.

Does this type of history-recording fascinate you? You can start small with a relative, a neighbor, or even a stranger who might become a friend. Learn how to do it with this Smithsonian guide.