The Legacy Project

Meet John Hughes, Chief Oral Historian for Washington State's Legacy Project. Talk about a job that seems tailor-made. Considered an elder statesman in Washington journalism, before joining the Legacy Project John Hughes was the award-winning editor and publisher of The Daily World at Aberdeen. He is also a longtime trustee of the Washington State Historical Society.

"I grew up in Aberdeen and was fascinated with the rough and tumble days along the waterfront." says John. "History has been my passion since I was a kid hanging around the newsroom, listening to the old-timers talk about lumber schooner captains, Wobbly free-speech fights, unsolved murders and the glory days of logging."

At age 65, John shares many experiences with Northwest Prime Time readers. "I think the Legacy Project really speaks to our generation," he says. "Tom Brokaw called our parents generation 'The Greatest Generation.' I'm sorry we missed the lessons our parents learned in the depression and World War II." He is conscious of the fact that oral histories are being lost every day. "A lot of us are not getting any younger," he adds.

The Legacy Project records oral histories of notable Washingtonians. "While the mandate is four-fold and includes interviewing former members of the executive branch, congress and the judiciary, the wonderful thing is that there are people from all walks of life who have made extraordinary contributions to the history of Washington. My bet is that among your readers are people – perhaps not well known – who made remarkable contributions to our state's history. Maybe they were interned as Japanese Americans during World War II. Maybe there is a Rosie the Riveter or dock worker whose story should be told."

The Legacy Project, along with the State Archives, the State Library, and a branch of the Washington State History Museum will be housed at the new Heritage Center in Olympia, scheduled for completion in 2012. For more information, visit www.secstate.wa.gov/legacyproject or call 360-704-7141.

The Legacy Project is interested in getting ideas for people to interview. "I want to enlist a lot of people as deputies in legacy projects of their own," says John. "After a 42 year career as a journalist I learned that all of us can be oral historians."

The Legacy Project staff is small and includes John and Lori Larson, who serves as project coordinator. But as staffing and time allows they meet with groups interested in conducting oral histories in their communities. "We can offer tips on accepted professional practices – things to do and not to do," says John. If "best practices" are followed, citizen volunteers can capture priceless oral history. "We'd be pleased to review projects that might end up being featured as links to our new, user-friendly web site: www.secstate.wa.gov/legacyproject."

John is a passionate believer that one need not be a professional historian to do important work in history. "Working as a reporter and later as editor, everyday citizens told us amazing stories about people who should have been in the news. Our state is a melting pot personified with rugged individuals. The depression was a crucible for so much history. People from every place on earth came here."

The Legacy Project is also interested in potential volunteers, especially people who have professional skills in conducting oral histories or transcribing recordings, a crucial part of the oral history process. "I know there are a lot of really bright retired people who love history and want to be active. Thanks to the Internet they can do research for us, help us to create the flesh and bones and soul of a person from their own area. We currently have three volunteers and they are doing fabulous work for us."

Just what is an oral history? "Doing oral histories is like doing intensive research," says John. "You go into the interview with a script of questions that are relevant and interesting. Part of an oral historian's job is to jog someone's memory… Do you remember back in 1971 how you felt when…An oral history can be 18 hours of conversation that needs to be transcribed and edited."

When asked if it was difficult to leave behind a job he loved to join the Legacy Project, John replies, "It was time to do something new. Like many of your readers I was old enough to retire but I didn't want to retire. I am working harder than I ever have. I get to interview the most amazing people. It's fun! The opportunity to lead The Legacy Project is a dream come true," adds John. "Washington State history is endlessly fascinating."

The Legacy Project, along with the State Archives, the State Library, and a branch of the Washington State History Museum will be housed at the new Heritage Center in Olympia, scheduled for completion in 2012. For more information, visit www.secstate.wa.gov/legacyproject or call 360-704-7141.