The Chattanooga Public Library has created a platform to collect stories, photos, videos, oral histories and other memorabilia from local residents and organizations. Throughout March which is Women’s History Month, the new stories focus on Chattanooga women. The website, chattanoogamemory.com, is open to the public to add their own memories about Chattanooga women who have influenced their own lives.
The Library has partnered with Pass It Down to build the user-friendly website and create some of its content. The new stories added about Chattanooga women include: Abby Crawford Milton - Chattanooga’s suffragist leader, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker - a surgeon during the Civil War and the only female recipient to date of the Medal of Honor, Jackie Mitchell - the 18-year-old girl who struck out Babe Ruth, Hermena Litton - one of the few female pilots in the 1940s, and Patricia Underwood Williams - Chattanooga's first female police officer.
“We have so many strong, daring, and notable women here in Chattanooga, both past and present, this is a beautiful way to preserve and share their stories while commending their achievements,” said Corinne Hill, executive director of the Chattanooga Public Library.
The Library is asking current and former area residents to visit the website to contribute their personal Chattanooga stories and memories about women or any topic. Community members can upload their memories as photos, videos, voice recordings, text or a combination of these.
Modeled after the successful Singapore Memory Project, which launched in 2011 to capture that country’s history, the Chattanooga Memory Project will contribute to citizens’ 21st century skills, especially their ability to create media products and to apply technology effectively.
The vision of the Chattanooga Public Library is “an inspired, connected and engaged Chattanooga” with a population committed to lifelong learning, Ms. Hill said. “The Chattanooga Memory Project fulfills that mission in a truly meaningful way.”
The Chattanooga Memory Project website can be accessed from any computer or mobile device that is connected to the internet. All branches of the Library provide free computer and Wi-Fi access to the public during regular hours.
For more information, visit chattanoogamemory.com and chattlibrary.com